2 Samuel 7:4-17; Psalm 89:4-5, 27-30; Mark 4:1-20 He will establish a house for you. (2 Sam 7:11) Those who hear the word and accept it (Mk 4:20) “What have you done for me lately?” This question has a way of creeping into our relationships, even though we know it shouldn’t. There is a part of us that wants to tie love and affection to merit or getting what we deserve. And it goes both ways: we can demand something from someone else in exchange for our love, but we can also feel that we are worthy of another’s love only if we earn it. David showed some of this kind of thinking in this passage from the Second Book of Samuel. He had just finished building his palace in Jerusalem when he realized that he hadn’t built a suitable “palace” for the Lord. Perhaps he worried that God might be jealous of his new palace or that God might forget about his promises if he, David, didn’t do great things for him. God was quick to set David straight. He told him that he had never complained about the tent-like structure that housed the ark of the covenant. Then he reminded David that his favour wasn’t based on his (thats David’s) actions. “It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock” (2 Sam 7:8). God would always be with David; he didn’t need to earn God’s favour through lavish building projects. In fact, God didn’t stop with reaffirming past promises. Rather than having David build God a house, Nathan told David, “He will establish a house for you” (2 Sam 7:11). God wanted to establish a dynasty through David and a kingdom that would spread God’s light to all the nations. This story shows that God’s plans aren’t just gracious and loving; they’re also much greater and more life-giving than we often imagine! Do you, like David, worry about what you have done for God lately? Are you afraid that he might forget about you if you don’t get his attention? Put away your doubts and fear. God’s love for you is constant and unchanging; it always has been and always will be. And what’s more, he has things in store for you that you can’t even imagine. Rest in his love, and take joy in sharing it with others. What does the parable about seeds and roots, in the Gospel passage, say to us about the kingdom of God? Any farmer will attest to the importance of good soil for supplying nutrients for growth. And how does a plant get the necessary food and water it needs except by its roots? The scriptures frequently use the image of fruit-bearing plants or trees to convey the principle of spiritual life and death. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by the water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit (Jer 17:7-8; see also Psalm 1:3) The parable of Jesus of the sower is aimed at the hearers of his word. There are different ways of accepting Gods word and they produce different kinds of fruit accordingly. There is the prejudiced hearer who has a shut mind. Such a person is unteachable and blind to what he or she doesnt want to hear. Then there is the shallow hearer. He or she fails to think things out or think them through; they lack depth. They may initially respond with an emotional reaction; but when it wears off their mind wanders to something else. Another type of hearer is the person who has many interests or cares, but who lacks the ability to hear or comprehend what is truly important. Such a person is too busy to pray or too preoccupied to study and meditate on Gods word. Then there is the one whose mind is open. Such a person is at all times willing to listen and to learn. He or she is never too proud or too busy to learn. They listen in order to understand. God gives grace to those who hunger for his word that they may understand his will and have the strength to live according to it. Do you hunger for Gods word? “Father, thank you that you care about my life. Use me in any way you want to bring glory to your name. And, Lord Jesus, faith in your word is the way to wisdom, and to ponder your divine plan is to grow in the truth. Open my eyes to your deeds, and my ears to the sound of your call, that I may understand your will for my life and live according to it ” Amen.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 05:57:24 +0000
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