Monday Devotional: June 10, 2024

Bible Reading: Mark 4:26-34 (CEB)

²⁶ Then Jesus said, “This is what God’s kingdom is like. It’s as though someone scatters seed on the ground, ²⁷ then sleeps and wakes night and day. The seed sprouts and grows, but the farmer doesn’t know how. ²⁸ The earth produces crops all by itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full head of grain. ²⁹ Whenever the crop is ready, the farmer goes out to cut the grain because it’s harvesttime.” ³⁰ He continued, “What’s a good image for God’s kingdom? What parable can I use to explain it? ³¹ Consider a mustard seed. When scattered on the ground, it’s the smallest of all the seeds on the earth; ³² but when it’s planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all vegetable plants. It produces such large branches that the birds in the sky are able to nest in its shade.” ³³ With many such parables he continued to give them the word, as much as they were able to hear. ³⁴ He spoke to them only in parables, then explained everything to his disciples when he was alone with them.

Corn and soybean fields surround the town where I live. Here and there in daily conversation, I hear people talking about how the crops are doing in relation to the weather. They discuss how dry or wet the fields are. They talk about the moisture content in corn. Their conversations about the fields, the crops, and the weather usually end with, “Well, nothing we can do about it. We just need to wait and take what’s coming.”

In today’s scripture passage, Jesus talks about the kingdom of God and parallels it to growing seed. The kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seeds on the ground and forgets about them. The seeds grow without human notice or effort. The earth produces itself. When there are full grains in the head, the farmer will come back to harvest the grain.

This parable emphasizes that the Kingdom of God will come with little human effort and according to God’s time, but it does not discourage human involvement. The planter does scatter the seed and then goes about his daily routine, trusting in God’s providence. We may find it reassuring to note that the coming of God’s Kingdom to fruition does not depend on our efforts. We sow but do not determine the harvest. Jesus does encourage us to pay attention to the growth of the kingdom in our midst. We monitor the growth so we can participate in the harvest.

Farmers I know do not just sit and talk after planting seeds in the fields. They pay attention to their crops, checking soils, machinery, and weather regularity. When the crops are ready, they don’t waste any time but go into the fields to harvest them. Are we ready for the work of the harvest? Surely God is watching and waiting to receive our help.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, help us to pay attention to the growing kingdom of God in our midst, so that we can join in the harvest, Amen

By Yoshiya Takahashi, The Upper Room Disciplines 2012, page 178.

Bible Study

“Journey to the Heart”

Bible Readings: Psalm 20:1-9, Mark 4:26-34

ZOOM Session

Monday, June 10, 2024, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
For Zoom Link, send email to [email protected]

IN-PERSON Session

Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Conference Room, McGee Building