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READ: Mark 4:26
CHALLENGE: Be Grateful for All that God Does
We are heading into a great week – the week of Thanksgiving. It’s a great time to contemplate all God does in our lives. This story is told to demonstrate the true nature and power of the Kingdom of God. It’s the only place in the Bible that records Jesus telling this story. I love that it depicts God doing a work that is beyond us and we acknowledge it and appreciate it.
Mark 4:26-29 – He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
This parable is not about a man who planted. The parable is about all the things the man had no control over and how the seed he threw on the ground leads to a victorious harvest by the end of the season. And the process is beyond his understanding.
Let’s think of it like this. All we gardeners plant a seed that we couldn’t manufacture or create and we harvest a crop that we did not make grow. We watch it but we cannot control it or make it. Only God can! And we sit back amazed at all of the things God does, like warm weather and sunshine and rain as needed.
The gospel is not a seed that man made. It’s not a seed that we contrived or manufactured. No, that’s from God above! And God makes that seed grow into things that we can scarcely imagine and that is powerful! He changes lives so let’s give thanks for the God-stuff part.
(trans). Let’s start with this …
- THANK GOD FOR HIS PRESENCE
Simply stated. God is sovereign – He’s in control. Here’s how Jesus starts the talk – The kingdom of God is like …. There must have been some interest in this particular topic. Their world was not at rest because they were occupied by Rome and foreign soldiers were roaming their streets. I can see people longing for God to take the reins of their world. There is also unrest in our days and you may find yourself longing for God’s rule to become more prominent in life as well.
If there is kingdom it means that God is here. And how do I find this presence?
John 3:3 – Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. Apparently, this is something that Nicodemus wanted. You can enter it through faith and once there, God is impacting and influencing our lives.
So, let’s know that this is a sphere of love, blessing, guidance, and light that we enter through faith. It’s possible to have a truly great life.
- Presence Calls for Allegiance
The KINGDOM of GOD is an interesting phrase for God’s work and especially when you overlay that atop the world as we currently find it. This kingdom is certainly futuristic and coming in full someday. However, part of it is here now co existing with a world that is of another kingdom. Isn’t there a kingdom of light as well as a kingdom of darkness?
Since there is a kingdom, that necessitates the simple logic that there is also a ruler. It’s not much of a kingdom when there isn’t a king! This reality acknowledges that God is at the top of the pecking order. That’s good theology and good theology leads to good behavior. I get my directions from God, especially once I come to Him for salvation. The kingdom of God is God having say in my life.
As a kid we used to pledge allegiance to the American flag on a daily basis. We were reminded that our allegiance was to our own nation. When I enter the kingdom through faith, my allegiance is to God and I want to live in a way that makes Him happy. I’m living by his lead, not by the lead of a world that doesn’t even believe.
- Presence Means Blessing
Who does this kingdom belong to? It must belong to God as it’s clearly of him. He’s here!
Acts 17:25-27 – And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.
Where do we fit in? We are fortunate enough to be able to live within the sphere of his guidance, light, love, and blessing. Our Heavenly Father is interested in our world. From the Garden of Eden to the very end. He made it and He’s connected to it. Over and over again, God says, “I want to be your God and for you to be my people”! And we live that out in reality! The Bible is the reality zone! We’ve been praying to Him, counting on Him, brave through Him, strengthened through Him.
The angel of the Lord told Joseph, Jesus would be called Immanuel which means, “God with us”. Think about this, the Almighty IS WITH US and this has always been a reason not to be scared. We don’t need to fear because GOD. IS. WITH. US!
A great thing about the presence of God is the blessing of God. As Paul said, He gives life and breath and everything else! Do you ever look for God’s blessing on your work, your family, your life? There are great things that come because there is a God and God is here. God’s kingdom is not like the aurora borealis that shows up every now and again. God’s rule is a constant and that means He’s present steadily.
I love marriage because I have someone to be with me. I saw an RV and there was a plaque on the back that said, “Together is the best place to be” and I hope that we all feel that way. Your spouse’s presence is a blessing.
One of the greatest blessings we have is the people in our lives. Presence is a blessing, encouragement, help. I’ve said it before, I don’t know where I’d be without the great people around me! Presence is such a blessing. God is part of our lives and blesses us.
- Presence Means He Is Working
If God has a kingdom, then He’s investing. That means it’s important to him. He sent His own son into the world. I appreciate the work that God is doing all around us.
For those of us with property, we’re constantly looking around and seeing things that need to be fixed. We’ve made a myriad of improvements. I’ve planted trees including a small orchard. Blueberries. We built a large stone patio, put a roof over decks, fixed doors, renovated a bathroom. This fall I repaired a few windows. There’s always work to do and things to improve. Why do I take so much care? I own it.
God owns it and he’s working in it. And He’s super interested in doing a spiritual work. God works in you, in the church, in the world, and in the secular society as well. We trust God to do great things. What is God’s heart? He wants all men to come to a saving knowledge of the truth. Paul said that God started a good work in you and he’ll finish it too.
In fact, the Bible encourages us to depend on God. Psalm 50:14-15 – Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, 15 and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
- Presence Means Love
I wonder, what’s the most important part of the kingdom of God to God? Isn’t it you? I don’t think that God just wants mountains and trees. He has you here for a reason. Every single human is made in the image of God and you have intrinsic value.
He loves you so much that He sent His son to die on the cross for your sins. John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God knows so much about you that He knows every hair on your head. There’s not a bird that dies that God does not feel that and you’re way more valuable than birds.
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
True love is loving people even though they are imperfect. True beauty is loving people through their imperfections; despite flaws and things you find objectionable. True love will cover a multitude of sins.
Marriage certainly requires this gracious love. Not only are there sins but there are also idiosyncrasies as well. I appreciate my wife’s love even on those days that I least deserve it! If I had to be perfect first then it wouldn’t be love.
Church is not full of just perfect people. Sinners can join the rest of us cause God loves us despite our imperfections. I want to be my best but I realize that I fall short of that standard of God’s excellence. God chooses to love me and I appreciate that.
- THANK GOD WE GET TO PARTICIPATE
A man scatters seed and then God works with that seed. I love that God includes people in his work. Adam was created to take care of the Garden of Eden. He was placed into a place of beauty that God had created. He just needed to take care of it.
Since we can spread the seed of the gospel, we participate in this very beautiful movement in the hearts and souls of humanity. God uses us whether that is telling someone about our faith or helping a widow or teaching a lesson or playing an instrument. Mankind has a partnership with God. The church is the hands and feet of Jesus and that’s profound. You’re part of God’s working.
It was great to see so many at Operation Christmas Child. This week, Rita and her gang, will have a community dinner, the Vine Food Pantry already handed out Thanksgiving meals and next up is HALO. All opportunities to help others in this world. Church is more dynamic when we have some skin in the game and participate.
It’s God’s church, but the human servants are the ones who tend to it. What God needs from his servants is faithfulness and then he can take it from there. Participate humbly. There is nothing that I have or use that I haven’t been given.
1 Corinthians 4:7 – For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
Now, let’s recall. The person planting the seed, has something in his hand that is outside of himself. I can’t go into my kitchen and whip up some bean seeds. I can’t pull upon the big tree cookbook. I don’t have a science lab where I manufacture tomato seeds. I take them from whatever has already existed. It’s SO far beyond me.
I don’t own this gospel. I did not manufacture the word. As Peter said, it’s not a cleverly devised story. It was not a concept made up by humans. I’m blessed to be able to serve in something bigger than myself. We are grateful to serve.
So, what is of God is not something we manufacture. It’s beyond us and we’re blessed to have it. My job is participation, not manipulation. It’s not my job to try to coerce God or force people’s spiritual growth. I just plant the seed. Perhaps we need need a manipulation gauge! Am I participating in or manipulating God’s work? Plant the seed. Harvest when ready. Allow God to be God.
I should take care of business but allow God to take care of the rest. If I were on the musical team, I’d want to know my part. It’s not all riding on any one person but we have our role. Do the best you can and leave the rest up to God.
I appreciate the fact that God can use simple obedience for him. He can use our five loaves and two fish and make so much more of it.
- THANK GOD FOR HIS AMAZING DEEDS
V27-28 – Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.
Here’s how it works. A guy planted seed which is not extraordinary. It’s common. But then what happens according to verse 27? Whether the man is asleep or awake, night or day, the seed buds and grows (grows long) and he does not know how. This part amazes me and reminds me of how limited we all are. It doesn’t matter if he sleeps or gets up. The seed just pops up. It is completely independent of man’s actions – it’s a God thing.
So true, I’m never there when the zucchini pops up out of the ground with its two little leaves. I don’t know if it was day or night. I don’t know if it was it was when I was running on the trail or when I was sleeping or at work. But I do know this – I didn’t do it.
All by itself it produces grain. A stalk, a head, a full kernel. All by itself. Independent of me. I never get the credit. There is human action that plants seed but the rest happens regardless of what we do. I plant a tomato and it’s doing it’s thing whether I sit on the patio all summer or go talk to it every day.
There are things on this earth that are in the God cloud. And we don’t understand why or how it all works but we trust God for it. And Jesus is recognizing that part of God’s kingdom is God’s work! And it’s ONLY God’s work.
Let’s ponder how amazing He is. Let’s never sit around thinking about how amazing we are. Or how the world would not survive without our work. God is the one who gets the credit. Just do your part and let God do His part. There was a great Psalm – psalm 50. It points out that God doesn’t need us, we need Him. It’s dependence. And we stand back and marvel at what He’s doing.
Is the “I don’t know part comforting or terrifying”? I think it’s comforting because then I don’t feel the weight of the entire world. I realize that I can’t always do something. I can’t change a heart. I also take comfort in the fact that I don’t have to know everything. I accept it with a determination to do my best with what I control. Pray, serve, do good, honor God, knowing that God will accomplish his part whether I’m awake or asleep or day or night
The Apostle Paul had such a beautiful handle on this passage – 1 Corinthians 3:5-7 – What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
Paul admits that we are only servants. One plants and another waters but only. God can make it grow. There are things that happen in my life that I step back and look at with amazement. And I’d like to take credit for it sometimes. But then I realize, how in the world can you take credit? If it were not for God, it wouldn’t have happened. I got up and got out the door and then it was God.
2 Corinthians 4:7 – But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
- THANK GOD FOR PURPOSE FOR LIVING
29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
It bears fruit and there is a harvest. I appreciate that there is a purpose. We get a head of grain that is complete and then there is a harvest. It’s the point of it.
We see the combines going through the fields. And they take the beans and it goes into huge trucks. It’s then shipped off. The fields were plowed, smoothed, and planted, then harvested. There was no point in doing the planting if there is not a harvest. There is purpose.
What are we here for? What’s the purpose of life? Plant the seed and work in God’s harvest! It’s pretty awesome!! The Bible promises that we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. There will be fruit for your hard work! There’s a reason for living and for all that we do.
My mom used to have a plaque and it read, “Be patient, God isn’t finished with me yet”.
CONCLUSION: What are you thankful for! God’s presence and purpose. God’s work and our chance to participate. Be thankful you can!