So, onto the second part of Mark four. Jesus gives the disciples several other parables and explains to them that these parables speak of Kingdom mysteries.
Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.
He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they see what I do,
they will learn nothing.
When they hear what I say,
they will not understand.
Otherwise, they will turn to me
and be forgiven.’”
Mark 4:10-12
It's taken me a little while to realize, but God still speaks in parables today. And He does so in a way that is modeled by how Jesus did so for His disciples. Often I'll perform an everyday task, just going through the motions, when the Lord reveals to me a parable relating to what I just did. God wants to turn even the little things into a learning experience for us. He wants to give us revelation and understanding on the big things by speaking to our minds as we work on the small.
It is a great feeling when you are working on something, and then the Lord begins to speak. He tells you the symbolism behind what you just did, and how you essentially just walked out a Kingdom principle by your actions. He gives you a now word that reveals a new segment of truth. Our God wants to redeem every bit of our time--provided we are using it to try to please Him (Ephesians 5:16). He wants to re-purpose the ordinary and turn it into an opportunity to learn from Him. He wants to speak to us through parables!
And it's within our own minds and in our time alone with the Lord that He reveals to us something that unbelievers just wouldn't understand. He reveals a spiritual truth out of the ordinary, and as we spend more time with Him, He imparts more and more. The parable may be played out in public, but the interpretation, the knowing, comes with His inner stillness as we take time to put our attention onto Him.
Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
Mark 4:24-25
There is no end to the depth of revelation we can find in a parable. God can just keep giving more and more! He may symbolize His love by our action first, and as we go deeper into the parable's symbolism, He can then reveal a message of spiritual giftedness, too. If we listen, He will continue to speak. If we listen more closely, He will speak more deeply! We can be comforted in knowing that if we try, God will come in and equip us with all the understanding we need to discern what He's saying.
We need to take every message from God seriously. Every word from Him gives life, and every parable from Him gives understanding. If we have an ear to hear, He can speak to us nonstop! He can redeem every action, and turn it into a parable or an opportunity to learn. God wants to speak to us about even the little things--He wants to give us that 'blessed assurance' even while we work on smaller tasks.
Confirmed: The Lord spoke to me about Mark four yesterday afternoon, and in the evening, I came across a new word on the Elijah list. It's called "God Has a Specific Word Waiting For You", and for me, it in itself was a very specific word, as it ties in so closely to what God had just been showing me! So cool. That's the link, if you have time to read it.
Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.
He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they see what I do,
they will learn nothing.
When they hear what I say,
they will not understand.
Otherwise, they will turn to me
and be forgiven.’”
Mark 4:10-12
It's taken me a little while to realize, but God still speaks in parables today. And He does so in a way that is modeled by how Jesus did so for His disciples. Often I'll perform an everyday task, just going through the motions, when the Lord reveals to me a parable relating to what I just did. God wants to turn even the little things into a learning experience for us. He wants to give us revelation and understanding on the big things by speaking to our minds as we work on the small.
It is a great feeling when you are working on something, and then the Lord begins to speak. He tells you the symbolism behind what you just did, and how you essentially just walked out a Kingdom principle by your actions. He gives you a now word that reveals a new segment of truth. Our God wants to redeem every bit of our time--provided we are using it to try to please Him (Ephesians 5:16). He wants to re-purpose the ordinary and turn it into an opportunity to learn from Him. He wants to speak to us through parables!
And it's within our own minds and in our time alone with the Lord that He reveals to us something that unbelievers just wouldn't understand. He reveals a spiritual truth out of the ordinary, and as we spend more time with Him, He imparts more and more. The parable may be played out in public, but the interpretation, the knowing, comes with His inner stillness as we take time to put our attention onto Him.
Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
Mark 4:24-25
There is no end to the depth of revelation we can find in a parable. God can just keep giving more and more! He may symbolize His love by our action first, and as we go deeper into the parable's symbolism, He can then reveal a message of spiritual giftedness, too. If we listen, He will continue to speak. If we listen more closely, He will speak more deeply! We can be comforted in knowing that if we try, God will come in and equip us with all the understanding we need to discern what He's saying.
We need to take every message from God seriously. Every word from Him gives life, and every parable from Him gives understanding. If we have an ear to hear, He can speak to us nonstop! He can redeem every action, and turn it into a parable or an opportunity to learn. God wants to speak to us about even the little things--He wants to give us that 'blessed assurance' even while we work on smaller tasks.
Confirmed: The Lord spoke to me about Mark four yesterday afternoon, and in the evening, I came across a new word on the Elijah list. It's called "God Has a Specific Word Waiting For You", and for me, it in itself was a very specific word, as it ties in so closely to what God had just been showing me! So cool. That's the link, if you have time to read it.
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