February 25 – Mark 4:21-34
In this short passage, Jesus teaches the basic principles of the Kingdom of God using parables. With His ministry, God’s Kingdom was coming on earth, and He was (and still is) inviting people to be part of that Kingdom. But the Kingdom of God does not come in ways that make sense to human beings. In Isaiah 55:8, the Lord says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” and 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 tells us, “God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”

The world chooses the big things and the strong things. The world expected the Messiah to come in power and might to restore the kingdom of Israel. Instead, He came quietly as a baby in a stable, and He slowly began planting seeds that would grow the Kingdom of God on earth. He began with a group of ragtag fishermen, a tax collector, a zealot, and others that the world had overlooked. He taught them what it was to have a relationship with God and what redemption and forgiveness and love look like, and He told them to go and tell others. They were to become lights in the darkness.
That’s our job, too. We have been redeemed by Jesus. Our hearts have been changed. We participate in relationship with Him, and He is the Light of the World (John 8:12). Like Moses, whose face shone after being in God’s Presence (Exodus 34:29-35), we also shine when we have spent time with God, and we reflect His love to others. We are not to hide the good news or the love we are part of. What Jesus sometimes hid in parables (for a time) we are to teach in the open (Mark 4:22). And if we are generous and loving in this task, we will be the recipients of generosity and love—our measure will be used to measure our recompense (v. 24). (“Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”—Proverbs 11:25)
God will do the rest. We don’t have to figure out how to grow the Kingdom. That’s God’s job. We just have to continue to be lights for Him. As farmers plant seeds and trust, we plant seeds and trust. God causes the growth (v. 27; see also 1 Corinthians 3:6-7).
The growth we see may not seem like much at first. Jesus’ ministry was small, yet it started a movement that could not be stopped. It was like a mustard seed in the beginning, and now it continues to grow, offering shelter to more souls than we can count (vv. 30-32). As His church, we are part of that movement, reflecting His light to a hurting world and watching the Kingdom grow until He comes again.
Spend some time in the Lord’s Presence today so that you can reflect His love to others. Ask Him to show you what seeds you can plant this week. How can you share His love with others? Enjoy the freedom of knowing that all you have to do is share His love. He is the one who will work in the hearts of those you encounter. And His Kingdom will grow as a result—sometimes in ways you will never see until you get to heaven and He shows you the harvest.
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