Grace For The Journey

  The meaning of Jesus’ words in Mark 4:24-25may not be immediately apparent to you, but your soul’s spiritual prosperity depends on living it out.  The Bible says in those verses, “Then He said to them, ‘Take heed what you hear.  With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.  For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even wht he has will be taken away from him.’”

These words follow the Parable of the Sower in Marl 4:1-20 where Jesus stresses the importance of hearing the Word of God (Verses 9, 12, 16, 18, and 20).  In Mark 4:24-25, Jesus teaches that diligence in engaging God’s Word pays off big time and negligence will forfeit spiritual understanding.  This is why Jesus often would say “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” – because some would treat the Word of God lightly, only to harden their hearts and continue in disbelief.  It is God’s desire that this never be said of us.

In studying the passage more, I ran across J.C. Ryle’s comments on these verses from Expository Thoughts on the Gospels:

“Hearing the word is one of the foremost means of grace that God has given to man … This is a principle which we find continually brought forward in Scripture.  All that believers have is undoubtedly of grace.  Their repentance, faith, and holiness, are all the gift of God.  But the degree to which a believer attains in grace, is ever set before us as closely connected with his own diligence in the use of means, and his own faithfulness in living fully up to the light and knowledge which he possesses.  Indolence and laziness are always discouraged in God’s word.  Labor and pains in hearing, reading, and prayer, are always represented as bringing their own reward. “The soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” (Proverbs 13:4) “An idle soul shall suffer hunger.” (Proverbs 19:15)

Attention to this great principle

Is the main secret of spiritual prosperity.

The Christian who makes steady progress in spiritual attainments – who grows visibly in grace, and knowledge, and strength, and usefulness – will always be found in searching and studying the Scriptures.  He leaves no stone unturned to promote his soul’s well-doing.  He is diligent in his daily time spent with God and His Word, diligent in studying and living by the Scriptures, diligent as a hearer of sermons, diligent in his worship.  And, he reaps according as he sows.  Just as the muscles of the body are strengthened by regular exercise, so are the graces of the soul increased by diligence in using them.

Do you wish to grow in grace?  Do you desire to have stronger faith, brighter hope, and clearer knowledge?

Beyond doubt we do, if we are true Christians.

Then let us live fully up to our light,

And improve every opportunity.

Let us never forget our Lord’s words in this passage.

“With what measure we use;”

To edifying our souls,

“It shall be measured to us again.”

The more we do for our souls, the more shall we find God does for them.

I’ve had ups and downs in the Christian life and have experienced both the rich treasure of diligence and the bitter fruit of neglect as it comes to paying attention to God’s Word. Jesus’ words from Mark 4 encourage me to give my all to hearing, loving, and obeying God’s Word.  I hope they do for you too.

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”