"But those sown on rich soil
are the ones who hear the word and accept it
and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”
MARK 4:20
Jesus is the Word. The Word that spoke the world into being. The Word that breathed life into every living thing. The Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word that revealed the Father's love and grace. Hear the Word and accept it and bear fruit. The word of God is like a seed that falls on rich soil. They produce a crop that multiplies a hundredfold. They reflect the glory of God and His kingdom.
The word of God is like a lamp that shines in the darkness. It guides our steps and shows us the way. It reveals our sins and leads us to repentance. It teaches us the truth and sets us free. But we must not hide the lamp under a basket or a bed. We must hear the word and accept it and bear fruit. We must share the light with others and spread the gospel. We must live by faith and obey God's commands.
The word of God is like a sword that pierces the soul. It cuts through our thoughts and intentions. It exposes our motives and judges our actions. It corrects our errors and trains us in righteousness. But we must not use the sword to harm or destroy. We must hear the word and accept it and bear fruit. We must use the sword to defend and edify. We must wield the sword with love and wisdom.
1 On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land. 2 And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them,3 “Hear this! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots. 7 Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain. 8 And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” 9 He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” 10 And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. 11 He answered them, “The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, 12 so that they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.” 13 Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them.16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. 17 But they have no root; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, 19 but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. 20 But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” (Mark 4:1-20)
It is the Lord who made you to be who you are and what you are today. He has given you a new life and sent His Spirit to dwell in you. Build a house for God's name. A house that is not made of bricks or stones, not limited by space or time, not defined by walls or roofs and not for human glory or fame. Build a house for God's name. A house that is made of living stones, filled with His presence and power, shaped by His grace and truth, that is for His worship and praise.
4 That night the Lord spoke to Nathan and said: 5 “Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Should you build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day on which I led the children of Israel out of Egypt to the present, but I have been going about in a tent under cloth. 7 In all my wanderings everywhere among the children of Israel, did I ever utter a word to any one of the judges whom I charged to tend my people Israel, to ask: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’ 8 “Now then, speak thus to my servant David, ‘The Lord of hosts has this to say: It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth. 10 I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, 11 since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you. 12 And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his Kingdom firm. 13 It is he who shall build a house for my name. And I will make his royal throne firm forever.14 I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. And if he does wrong, I will correct him with the rod of men and with human chastisements;15 but I will not withdraw my favor from him as I withdrew it from your predecessor Saul, whom I removed from my presence. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.’” 17 Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David. (2 Samuel 7:4-17)
God maintains His love for you, and His covenant with you stands firm. His love is not based on your performance or your worth, not affected by your failures or your sins, not diminished by your doubts or your fears, and not conditional or temporary or changing. Instead, God's love is steadfast and loyal and faithful, gracious and merciful and forgiving, powerful and healing and transforming, eternal and unbreakable and secure. God's covenant is not a contract or a bargain or a deal, not a promise or a vow or an oath, not a legal or a formal or a binding agreement. Instead, His covenant is a relationship or a partnership or a friendship, a commitment or a pledge or a guarantee, a bond or a tie or a connection, a gift or a blessing or a privilege.
4 “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: 5 I will make your destiny stand forever and establish your throne for all ages.” 27 “He shall cry to me, ‘You are my father, my God, the Rock that brings me victory!’ 28 I myself make him firstborn, Most High over the kings of the earth.” 29 “Forever I will maintain my love for him, and my covenant with him stands firm. 30 I will establish his dynasty forever, his throne as the days of heavens.” (Psalm 89:4-5, 27-28, 29-30)
Lord Jesus, You are the Word that made me to be who I am and what I am today. You provide for all my needs and fill me with Your joy. You teach me Your ways and lead me in Your truth. You comfort me in my troubles and strengthen me in my weakness. Please forgive me of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Change me from the inside out and make me more like You. Empower me by Your Spirit and equip me for Your service. You are my Lord and my God, my Savior and my Friend, my Life and my Hope, my Peace and my Joy. You are my Everything and my All, now and forevermore. Amen.
Pericope:
I: The Mystery of Jesus
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
Mark 4:1-20
IV: The Reign of David
DAVID'S CONCERN FOR THE ARK
2 Samuel 7:1-17
Third Book of Psalms 73-89
A LAMENT OVER GOD'S PROMISE TO DAVID
Psalm 89:1-53
Reflection Source:
Copilot with Bing Chat
