TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read: Mark 4:1-20
Listen: Mark 4
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Jesus’ parable in Mark 4 helps us see why some people grow, and others don’t. You probably marked grow as an action word today. The parable also illustrates specific dangers in our pursuit of Jesus— rocks and thorns. (Hint: You will probably mark these key words with a star when you reread the verses tomorrow.)
Pastor Aaron Buer explained this past weekend that these dangers represent (rocks) and distractions (thorns). And just like a farmer has to prepare and maintain his soil, we have to prepare and maintain the soil of our hearts.
Barriers and distractions are all around. Barriers might be sinful things we know we shouldn’t do but yet allow to take hold in our lives. Or we allow ourselves to get distracted by our phones, sports, games, news, work or other not-really-bad things. Each of us has something that can block or choke out the work God wants to do in our lives. But just like a farmer deals with rocks and weeds all the time, we continually need to address the barriers and distractions in our own lives too.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Spend a few minutes thinking about what rocks (barriers) or thorns (distractions) are in your life. Then write the following prayer on page 41 in your journal and fill in the blank. “God, you are good and I want to pursue you. _________ is a barrier or distraction to my pursuit of you. I give _____ to you and ask that you would help me to listen and pursue you this week.”
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
