Saturday, March 17, 2007

Open Up your Spiritual Ears to Hear More!

(today's devotion is brought to you by Anthea, Ling Ling and Shinuan)

Scripture Reference: Mark 4:21-29

Listen up children of God, to what Jesus has to teach us today! As the first verse of today’s passage says ‘If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear,’ (v23) so let us open our hearts to receive God’s word and be attentive to what He has to teach us.

Why is it so important to listen to God’s word and be doers of it? Mark 4:24, ‘Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more’, tells us that if we listen to God’s word and keep it close to our hearts and faithfully share His word to others, God will bless us with more revelation of His word and more knowledge of the Gospel.

Also, from v25, we are told that if we have the light of Jesus in us and the knowledge of God, and we make proper use of it we shall have more. So children of God, be encouraged that even as you strive to obey God and know His word deeply, you will be given more and will shine brighter and brighter for Christ. If we know this revelation, reading God’s word and obeying Him will not be such a chore!

Once we understand the importance of hearing God’s word and making use of it for His glory, we will be faithful ambassadors of God. We all want to be vessels for God to use in the furtherance of His kingdom. Today’s passage speaks about the kingdom of God and it is important to know what it is like so we can be productive in helping it grow.

We are like the man in the parable who plants the seed. In order to be ambassadors of Christ, we first need to plant the seed of God’s word in the hearts of prebelievers. In order to do this, you need to be equipped with God’s word and that is where the first part of today’s devotional comes in!

The second thing we need to do is to rest in God and entrust our ministry and efforts to Him. We too go to sleep like the man in the parable (v27) but even then, the kingdom of God is still growing when we are not up and running about. This is to say that we should put it in our best and be diligent but ultimately, God is the one who is in charge and causes the growth. ‘I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.’ (1 Co3:6)

The third thing is we need to have faith to believe the kingdom of God will come eventually and when it does, it will be glorious. Although the kingdom of God started out with only 12 apostles, God has used them mightily and multiplied His kingdom. Although some people may turn away when God’s word is preached, we must not give up and continue to believe in the power of God’s word and the mighty wonders it will do and the numerous people who will hear His word and be saved.

So embrace the power of the Word of God and you will see the light of Christ in you shining brighter and brighter and touching more lives as you share the Gospel!

‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.’ (Romans 1:16)

(today's devotion is brought to you by Anthea, Ling Ling and Shinuan)

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