Mark 4:26-29
Find a way to separate yourself from whatever’s going on around you so you can fully enter into today’s passage. if you haven’t read the introduction to Mark’s Gospel, read it here.
Read Mark 4:26-29 paying close attention to the responsibility of the farmer.
First Century Palestine was a largely agrarian society, so Jesus used many farming illustrations to explain the how things work in the kingdom of God. In this simple parable, Jesus describes the distribution of responsibility in the kingdom. The farmer has a part to play at the beginning and end of the process, but all of the transformational parts of the process, from the sprouting of the seed to the maturing of the grain, are completely out of the farmer’s control.
Read Mark 4:26-29 again focusing especially on the transformational process
Seeds are small packages that contain the power and potential of a full-grown plant. Likewise, our small actions, motivated by our desire to see shalom expressed on earth, have within them the power and potential of the kingdom of God. Our part is to scatter seeds of shalom and then reap the kingdom harvest when the time is right. God alone does the transforming work in the lives of those we encounter each day, and God alone transforms the world.
What seeds of the kingdom might you be able to scatter today? What could you do to open yourself up to God’s transforming power? What small acts of shalom might you have the opportunity to do for others today?
What do you think might happen if you were to begin each day by asking Jesus to open your eyes to the opportunities you will have during the day to spread seeds of shalom to others? What do you think would happen if everyone who claimed to follow Jesus did this?
What would reaping the results of God’s transforming process look like?
Take a few minutes to brainstorm with Jesus about these questions. Then write down any ideas that come to mind.
If these meditations are helpful to you, please forward them to couple of friends.
Interested in going deeper? Check out The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide and blog.
