“And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand?  For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light” (Mark 4:21-22).

We live in a world of shadows.  The wicked scheme and think that their deeds are hidden.  The Light of the world shines and we hear that there is nothing that will not be revealed.  How much wickedness of the past, once hidden, has been revealed so that we might understand what has happened?  We are told that, in the end, none of the wickedness will remain hidden.  Live knowing that all is transparent.

Lord, help me to understand.  Help me to live life such that I know all things are visible to You.  Guide me to not plot, as the wicked do, but to seek to do Your will.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, so that I am not afraid, but also that I do not try to hide things.  Lead me to have a heart that reaches out to others in order to show the light of Your love through my life.  Take me from where I am to where I need to be.

Lord Jesus, You have spoken in clear and understandable words.  I can do nothing about those who do wickedness, but I can stand firm in the light of Your revelation and reflect Your word in me to others.  Help me so that I live into the life You have given me in faith.  Lead me to understand these things and reflect them through all that I say and do.  Guide me now and always, knowing that all things are visible to You.  Amen.

“And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold” (Mark 4:20).

This is a logical and easily understood principle.  Those willing receive the word of the Lord and that seed grows inside to bear fruit.  Sadly, those who do not receive the word do not understand and, hearing the same word, have nothing happen to them.  The word must be received and then it will grow and produce what the Lord intends.  We need to be receptive.  Or to be blunt, surrender.

Lord, just because I sit and listen, and the words fly by, does not mean that I am taking these words in and receiving them.  Help me to resist the evil words of this age and receive Your words of truth.  Too often, I suspect, it is the other way round, and I reject You while being fed by wickedness.  Change is needed.  The good must go in and the evil must be deflected and only You know truly which is which.

Lord Jesus, You have told me that if I abide in You, knowing that You abide in me, I will bear fruit.  Make me good soil so that I am receptive to Your word and watch as it takes root and grows in me that which the Father desires.  Till the ground of my soul and help me to be receptive.  Guard my soul so that I am sensitive to the wickedness that is all around me.  Help me to bear good fruit for Your kingdom.  Amen.

“And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:18-19).

We all want what we want.  We are driven by as many motives as there are people in this world.  It is sinful anarchy.  Too many things are able to choke out the faith which we have been given unless we surrender to the Lord knowing that He is who must be the author and finisher of our faith.  The Lord will raise up those who are born in the mire of this world to bear fruit befitting the kingdom of God.

Lord, You know where I fall short.  You know the places where the temptations of this world get in the way of my living the life which You have given me through faith.  I am conditional, but Your love is unconditional.  Guide me so that I do not settle for the things of this world which are perishing.  Lead me instead to live into the life of faith which You have grown in me.

Lord Jesus, I sometimes act as if these are platitudes for others and they do not apply to me.  Lead me out of the doldrums of this life into the new life which You have given me.  Guide me along the narrow path so that Your word of truth grows in me, bearing fruit for Your kingdom.  Lord, let me not watch what is growing, or even how much anything grows, but look to You, the Word made flesh, knowing that You will guide me into all truth.  Amen.

“In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away” (Mark 4:16-17).

All you or I need to do is look around and this is what we see.  Many have gone to church, and now no longer go to church.  The game is becoming more apparent.  As long as I get what I want, I’ll be a part of it, but as soon as things change, I’m out of here.  We see a great deal of this in our day.  People are not bonded to one another, let alone the Lord.  It is a free-for-all in our world.  Give and take but take more than you give: this is the world’s message.

I love Your word, O Lord.  Then I go into the world and forget what You have said.  Much of Your word has fallen off of me.  Or maybe I do not love Your word.  Create in me a new and clean heart.  What I am able to do in this world begins with You.  The comfort of habit is easily shattered.  Your word rooted in me may be cut to the ground, but the roots are still there.

Lord Jesus, teach me through Your word.  You have given me the words of everlasting life.  This world gives me words of temporary comfort or pleasure.  Take me from where I am to where I need to be so that I may live into the life for which You died.  Help me to see the simple reality of this as I live my daily life in order that I would grow in this faith You have given me to become more like You.  Amen.   

“These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them” (Mark 4:15).

“I do not agree with that!”  How many times do you see someone saying this as if their opinion were equal to God’s declared truth?  Pride gets in the way and we think more of ourselves than we ought.  Satan feeds this.  God’s word falls on our ear, but the self will not receive what the Lord gives us.  Which is true?  Is it what the Lord has said or what you think?  The word of the Lord is the Word of the LORD.

Lord, in the absurdity of this sinful world I act as though I can negotiate with You.  Either I go to the place where I am harsh with others or else I say to myself and others that Your grace is sufficient –  the devil may care –  and You will sort it out in the end.  Take me away from either being the sin police or being uncaring about consequences and instead help me reside firmly in the word You give.

Lord Jesus, You have given me the words of truth in a world filled with lies.  The world, the flesh and the devils come along and tell me what I want to hear and Your word falls off me.  Do whatever it takes so that I am receptive to the whole of Your counsel.  Guide me ever deeper along the narrow path of salvation so that I live into the life You are giving me by faith.  Save me, Jesus, from the insanity of this world and help me to hold fast to the truth You have spoken.  Amen.

“And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables?  The sower sows the word” (Mark 4:13-14).

In the beginning was the Word.  The Word Incarnate has come and sown the word in us.  We are to become like Christ, sharing the Word with our lives.  In sowing you see where the seed lands and what happens to it.  When you participate in a Gospel life, You see the Lord at work.  Christ has sown His word in You and desires that You go out and sow His word in others.  This is how the word is spread.

Lord, is it really as simple as this?  Yet, I know that it is in the doing that I learn.  It is in seeing the truth that I believe.  It is in hearing that I begin to comprehend and understand.  I do this with worldly things.  Help me to see the pattern that You have created and teach me to be steadfast on the path which You have set before me.  Guide me so that I may grow in this faith which You have given me.

Lord Jesus, I need Your help.  In one moment, I become arrogant and think I know all there is to know.  In the next moment, I act as if I know nothing.  I am depending upon what I know.  Help me so that I do not do things on my own power, but lean wholly upon You for all things.  You have sown Your word in me.  Grow the roots deep and grow in me what You intend.  Lead me to trust You above all things.  Amen.

“As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables.  And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven” (Mark 4:10-12).

For those who believe and are willing, He will open their minds to the Word, He will give understanding.  The Holy Spirit brings wisdom.  Receive the Holy Spirit and become one who lives with understanding.  As you read Scripture, the Lord will open your eyes, heart, and mind to learn from Him.  He is sifting the hearts of all so that those who will be a part of the kingdom will willingly bow to the One who made all things.

Lord, I know that there are many mysteries in faith, but I also know that You have revealed truth.  In this world of opinions and self-will, help me to move beyond myself and see things as they are.  Guide me in Your goodness and take away from me my opinions as the basis of truth.  You are the One who made all things and You alone know how they are made to be.  Help me to be in Your will now and always.

Lord Jesus, whatever it is that causes me to insist on things being the way I want them to be, take them away so that I live in truth.  You have planted Your seed in me.  Help me to grow according to the Father’s will and not be hampered by my will.  Lead me forward in faith to grow the way You know I need to grow.  Nurture, prune, fertilize, and do whatever else is needed so that I may be with You forever.  Amen.

“And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mark 4:9).

You have ears, but do you have ears to hear?  Some listen but never hear.  The Lord wants us to hear and understand.  Our Lord wants us to have the life He is offering, but we are not forced to live a life of faith.  Love is not forced.  He loves us and He wants us to learn to love Him.  Love must always be the giving up of the self for the other.  You have ears, are you listening to what our Lord says?

Lord, You know that there are many times when I did not listen even though I heard.  You have told me the same thing in many ways, but I am often slow to learn.  Lord, heal my hearing so that I hear You when You speak.  Open my heart to receive what is right and true, and grant wisdom that I may understand.  You have spoken the words of truth in a world of lies.  Let me receive the truth and live in it.

Lord Jesus, You have spoken in such a way that in every time and place, there is understanding if we hear and obey.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may hear what You say and understand.  Open my eyes to see and believe, for You speak words that are eternally true.  Lord, You are the author of my faith; help me to understand and believe.  Amen.

“Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.  Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold” (Mark 4:7-8).

This world is filled with hostility.  The thorns of this world will choke us if we let them.  You have within you the ability to grow.  Prepare yourself by reading scripture so that you are willing to receive every lesson the Lord will give.  Learn to rid yourself of the resistance which is based upon your self-will so that the Lord’s will may be done in you in all circumstances.  The Lord will not stop until He makes of you what He will.

Lord, even in this I do not know many of my setbacks because I am unwilling to walk in the way You have set before me.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, so that I do not resist Your leading.  Teach me to resist the devil and welcome You, and not do things the other way round.  Through all things, grow Your word of truth in my heart so that I produce what it is that the Father intends with my life.

Lord Jesus, You came to redeem all who believe.  You are the author of my faith.  Help me to give up my self-will so that the Father’s will is done in me.  Guide me according to Your purpose so that I may see the growth of the seeds You have planted in me.  Through all things, do not allow the worries of this world choke the faith You have given me.  Increase my faith according to Your wisdom and keep me humble.  Amen.

“Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil.  And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away” (Mark 4:5-6).

So many have such hard shells around them that it seems almost impossible for the truth to penetrate into their hearts.  You and I also have a hardness which life in this age grows.  The worries of this world build a hardness, and the word of the Lord is easily rejected.  The heat this world puts upon us scorches us such that we are paying attention to the heat and not to that which is being scorched.

Lord, help me to see things as they are.  In good times, let me not miss things because I am having a good time.  In bad times, help me not miss things because I am lamenting and fretting over circumstances.  You are always with me.  You will never leave nor forsake me.  Aid me to see through the fog of this age so that I do not have a part in scorching Your word which You have placed in me.

Lord Jesus, You wandered through the wilderness of this age.  You know the difficulties I encounter.  Help me so that every difficulty becomes an opportunity to grow into Your likeness.  Where there is scorching heat, teach me to rest in You and be revived.  Through all things, may Your word grow in me in spite of and not because of circumstances.  Grow my faith in You through all things.  Amen.