11 He told them, ‘THE SECRET OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS BEEN GIVEN TO YOU. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables’ … Mark 4
After preaching and teaching the crowd, Jesus was then questioned in private by His own followers about the meaning of the parables He had spoken. He made a clear distinction between His followers and those outside who heard Him. The crowd were drawn to His ministry in great numbers and saw many miracles and healings, however, THOSE WHO FOLLOWED JESUS gained a greater depth of understanding. He explained to His followers the, ‘Secrets of God’s Kingdom’. God still has hidden or secret things to share with us today, but they may only come to those who intentionally seek them.
At the end of the Parable of the Sower, which Jesus spoke to the crowd, He concluded with a challenge;
9 Then Jesus said, ‘WHOEVER has ears to hear, let them hear.’ Mark 4
He’d spoken the parable, but the people needed to take His message to heart for themselves. They needed to really hear and let it become part of their lives, part of their thinking.
Further on in the chapter He repeats the same statement, but then He expands what He’s said;
23 If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.’
24 ‘Consider carefully WHAT YOU HEAR,’ he continued. ‘With the measure you use, it will be measured to you – and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.’
We must be careful what we Listen To, because the more we Listen to the truth the more truth we’ll receive. Casual listening will not take us very far in the things of this world, nor will we benefit much by such listening concerning the Kingdom of God. Jesus urged His followers to Listen attentively to the truths of the Kingdom and promised that they would then receive more. Our listening will determine the measure of our receiving!
In the Parable of the Sower, the third example was the seed sown among thorns. The seed was always good and multiplied in the right conditions, but the thorns, other things wanted to grow up and CHOKE the crop. Jesus explained what the thorns represented;
18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the WORRIES of this life, the deceitfulness of WEALTH and the DESIRES FOR OTHER THINGS come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Mark 4
The things that can CHOKE the fruit of Kingdom of God in our lives are Worries, Wealth and Wants or Wishes for other things. The world will try to distract us into its path for our lives and bankrupt our faith. We must be careful what we’re giving our attention to and hold fast to the Lord.
WE MUST STREAMLINE OUR LIVES AND RID OURSELVES OF ALL THE THINGS THAT SEEK TO CHOKE THE HARVEST GOD WANTS FOR US! DON’T DELAY, REMOVE THE ‘THORNS’.
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.