Student Devotional Week 22: Rooted or Rootless? Parable of the Sower

"Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop-thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown" (Mark 4:20).
Jesus spoke in parables so that everyone would understand, right? Then why did they have to ask for an explanation everytime he spoke? Did you catch what is going on when Jesus delivers this parable? There were crowds gathered around Jesus, so much that he got into a boat and tried to get away from them for a while, but they would not go until Jesus gave them a message or word. So he tells the parable from the middle of the lake about the parable of the sower and the seeds. There are 4 types of people you basically says:
1)The Path- Those who hear the word but it passes between their ears, it doesn't sink in at all. 2)The Rocky Path- Those who hear the word but it doesn't take root and the first hardship (the blazing sun) they die away.
3)The Thorns-Those who hear the word but they are unfruitful listening to the world rather than God.
4)The Good Soil-Those who hear the word and it takes root and they produce fruit multiplying the sower (God's) investment (30X, 60X, 100X).
So, the question is what type of person are you: Path, Rocky, Thorny, Good Soil? I would guess the majority of that crowd was like the path, going from one ear out the next. Why? Because only the 12 disciples came to Jesus later to ask what the parable actually meant. That means the rest of the crowd had no clue what he was talking about. I know this because in verses 10-12 Jesus explains why he taught in parables, not so everyone would understand him, but to confuse them. What? This is not what I have been taught my entire life about parables, but read it for yourself, the point of teaching parables is so that those who really want to know what Jesus is saying and meant would ask Him, those who were not truthfully seeking Him would go about their business. Do you seek what Jesus is trying to teach us in scripture or do you hear the words and they pass through you? Jesus wants us to be good soil, but we have to let the words take root first in order to be useful and produce good fruit.

Student Devotional Week 21: Bad News/Good News-Jesus Predicts His Death

"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2).
It is pretty deep to think a persons purpose in life was to die, but the reality that we face as Christians is the Jesus came with that ultimate purpose and that was to die for all of us! Jesus tried to tell the disciples over and over again that he was going to die soon, that it was God's plan for His life that he would die for our sins. Why didn't they hear what He was trying to tell them? Maybe they wanted Jesus to establish His kingdom on earth like other kings had done, maybe that thought it would go away if they ignored what He was saying, or maybe they simply could not comprehend why anyone would give their lives for people that don't even know Him and don't even deserve it! The reality is none of us deserve eternal life, but that is the point of why He had to do what He did. Jesus exemplifies this type of servant leadership throughout His life; always thinking of others needs above His needs. Matthew 20:28 puts it this way, "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." His ultimate purpose was to die for all of our sins as a ransom or payment for all the bad we have done and will continue to do. But, until that time of death Jesus served as many people as He could. How about you, do you put others needs above your own? Would you sacrifice your life for someone who you didn't know or who you knew as enemy? Will you choose to serve Christ?

Devotional Week 20: See God For Who He Is-The Transfiguration

"While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Matthew 17:5

Have you ever been out in God's creation and thought wow, God has created some awesome things. Three of the disciples: James, John, Peter experienced what we might call a God moment as they saw the Glory of God shine upon Jesus and actually heard the voice of God speak to them. The word Glory in Greek dokeo means "to reflect." Take a few moments this week to reflect on the Glory of God around you. You might want to take a walk outside and ponder the amazing things God has created!

"Like A Rock" The Church - Devotional Week 19

Jesus declared to Simon that "you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Matthew 16:18) The Catholic Church uses this as a proof text of Apostolic Lineage began with Peter as the first Head or Pope of the Church. Anyway, the significance in this verse is not so much the establishment of leadership, but the establishment of the church as an important part of God's plan. God never intended us to go about our lives alone, but for us to be actively working together in a community of believers called the church. Catholic means universal, so the catholic church is representative of all Christians all over the world not just the Catholic church in Rome. All of this points to unity and working together for one common goal in mind which is to further God's Kingdom here on earth and in heaven as new believer's come to faith in Christ. Are you actively involved in church? Do you think church is an important part of being a Christian?