Dear Explorer,
Read Mark 4:21-23
And
Read Luke 8:16-17
Jesus came to bring Light to our understanding and to make us Light to guide others out of their darkness. What are some ways that we hide our Light?
I believe there's an important truth here. I believe that we must work to hide our Light. If we just relax and live in obedience – our Light will shine brightly for all to see.
I think that I got it backwards for many years. For a long time, I worked on making sure that everyone could see my Light. That didn't work so well! But when I relaxed and just let God shine through me and I focused on doing what He had called me to do, then my Light shone without my noticing it. Our job is to not hide it!
Read Mark 4:26-29
This is certainly true of farming. I remember my Daddy planting his fields. He did everything he could to make sure the soil was ready for the seed. He plowed the ground around the seed to make it soft for the seed's roots, and he fertilized it with nutrients. But only God could make it sprout and grow and become what it was intended.
How is that similar to telling other people about Jesus' Good News?
What is our job in spreading the Good News? I found two mentioned in Mark 4:26-29.
What is God's job?
It is NOT my job to fill people's empty cores or take away their sins. I can't! It is NOT my job to force or coerce them into becoming followers. My job is to spread the seeds by telling people about Jesus and how He has filled my empty core and taken away my sins. Then my second job is to be available to help them if they decide to invite Jesus into their empty core (the harvest) and celebrate and rejoice with them. What a joy to be a part of God's Kingdom and to share it with others.
In His service, dale
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