Mark Devotions
by Rev. Sunil Balasundaram
[Please do read the passages before (or after) reading the devotion.]
The parable of the Sower/Seeds/Soil is a familiar one, and it is one that we have Jesus’ own interpretation of. We hear of the Word of God being sown in 4 different kinds of “soils”; being heard by 4 different kinds of people. The responses are varied, but the real result falls into 2 categories – the UN-fruitful (first 3 soils) and the fruitful (the last soil). The latter will be looked at tomorrow. The first kind of people are those that never take the Word (and God) seriously; they are those that have no intention of doing anything about what they hear (from the Word). The second are those who get sentimental/emotional when they feel God at work in their lives…but emotions/feelings fade, and so does God. The third start really well, but they haven’t really chosen to be separated from the world – they incorrectly think they can both indulge themselves/the world and have God’s presence in their lives. The result is lives that are unhappy and unfulfilled. Which kind of life are you?
Prayer: O Master Sower, I know that you have sown your Word many times in my heart. And yet I don’t always see the fruit of that Word in my life that brings you glory. Show me which kind of “soil” I am. Forgive me when there have been times I did not take You and Your Word seriously. Forgive me for times when I allowed my faith to be purely based on feeling, so when the feeling faded, so did you. Lord Jesus, I want to make you the sole focus of my life; let nothing distract me from you. I love you, Lord, because You loved me first. Amen.
