Mark 4:5-6 – The Sower: Quick to Hear, Fast to Forget

Bible, Devotions, Gospel, Jesus

Daily Devotional Bible Verse

Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. (Mark 4:5-6 ESV)

Fast forward, if you will, to Mark’s sixth chapter. Beginning in verse fourteen, we read the account of King Herod seeking to answer an intriguing question of the day, “Who is this Jesus of Nazareth?” After some speculation, we reach verse twenty, which interestingly reports that upon hearing John the Baptist, “he heard him gladly” (Mark 6:20). We know also from Jesus’ very own words about people like Herod that for awhile they were willing to rejoice in the light, in the truth that John the Baptist brought (John 5:35). Yet these people, who were so quick to rejoice and accept the truth, were not a new phenomena. Remember those to whom Ezekiel sang “with a beautiful voice” (Ezekiel 33:32), but still would not live according to the truth? Or those hypocrites who delighted to know God’s ways yet did not live according to them (Isaiah 58:2)?

All of these were the hearts, quick to hear and fast to forget, of shallow soil. In these hearts, the word Continue Reading →

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Isaiah 43:11 – Who Is Your Savior?

Devotions, Jesus, Leadership

Daily Devotional Bible Verse

I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior. Isaiah 43:11 ESV

As Americans, we have experienced historic elections as many of those who voted were not happy with the country’s direction. The old guard is voted out as the new is voted in with much joy. We vote in the hope that the government will save us from our problems. We hope that we will get jobs, be able to afford a house, become debt free, or just live a more comfortable life when our candidate wins. These politicians can in turn become our saviors. Continue Reading →

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Mark 4:4 – The Sower: Angry Birds

Devotions, Gospel, Jesus, Sin

Daily Devotional Bible Verse

And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. (Mark 4:3-4 ESV)

Paths are well trodden, their soil often packed hard as concrete. They form from consistent travel over the same area, and the more they get used the easier they are to traverse. But the type of path Jesus was speaking of in today’s text was the tightly packed soil of a human heart and soul. Here, we can infer at least two kinds of hearts represented by this soil of the path.

Firstly, there are those who’s hearts are like a highway, laying common and bare to all. These are people who may have seemingly countless friends, Continue Reading →

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Mark 4:3-4 – The Sower: Listen!

Devotions, Encouraging, Gospel, Jesus, Ministry

Daily Devotional Bible Verse

“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. (Mark 4:3-4 ESV)

When Jesus commands us to listen, our ears should tune in and our interest immediately pique! Here, Jesus was addressing a crowd on the shore from a boat, speaking to many commoners who normally wouldn’t be seen in the synagogue. This begins a famous parable known as, “The Parable of the Sower”. The Prime Sower is God, who dispenses “the word” (Mark 4:14) through his faithful sowers (2 Corinthians 9:10). Who are the sowers? All of us, not simply our Christian pastors, authors and speakers.

The joy of sowing is given to each of us, that we get to participate in God’s work, in God’s growing of people. In that day, sowing like this was a common method Continue Reading →

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Jonah 2:1-2 – Answered Prayers

Devotions, Prayer, Sin

Daily Devotional Bible Verse

Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, saying,
“I called out to the LORD, out of my distress,
and he answered me;
out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
and you heard my voice.
(Jonah 2:1-2 ESV)

Do you have a “friend” that you dread getting a phone call from? We might even choose to send their call straight to voicemail more times than not. Most of us don’t mind helping people. But, we mind helping people who constantly put themselves in the bad situations they are in and never get any wiser.

Jonah, like all of us, was calling to God in his distress. This was distress that he had caused himself! If he had just done what God had told him to do (Jonah 1:1-3), Continue Reading →

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Acts 23:5 – Kind Words For Your Rulers

Devotions, Encouraging, Leadership, Prayer

Daily Devotional Bible Verse

And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’” Acts 23:5

The high priest just had Paul slapped in the face for sharing the Gospel. Paul then insults the high priest, which most of us probably would do if we weren’t too afraid. After this he is told he insulted the high priest and we have Acts 23:5. This can be a hard verse to swallow; we aren’t supposed to speak evil of a ruler. But what if we don’t agree? Too bad, do not speak evil of a ruler. A ruler can refer to your boss, supervisor, elected official, the president, maybe some other leader in your life. But why shouldn’t we speak evil of a ruler? Continue Reading →

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