(Translated version, original article written in Chinese by Pastor Mickey Hsiao)
Worship
By singing praises and hymns, awake your soul, open your heart to the Lord, and prepare yourself to welcome the presence of God and receive the Word of God that will be given to you.
Thanksgiving
Petition with thanksgiving to God for a wonderful day and pray sincerely for a focused Scripture reading time! (Do not rush into reading the Bible without starting with prayers!) (e.g., you may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what will you be speaking to me today?)
Scripture Reading
Get the following items ready in advance: your devotional notebook, paper, pen, and/or electronic devotional articles so that you can easily write down the Bible verses, questions, and thoughts you have noticed! You are encouraged to open your Bible and vocally read out the scriptures (Try to practice this reading method daily or once a week)!
Scripture Reading: Mark Ch. 4 (ESV)
Meditation
Take a moment to quietly reflect on today’s Scriptures. Through such exercises, let God’s Word be gradually written into our hearts and be inscribed to our mind.
Devotional
Read the devotional articles prepared by CBCLWA (*Read the Bible first before reading any devotional materials.)
(vv. 1-20) As written in this chapter, Jesus spoke of several parables. In verse 3, his teaching began with the word “Listen”. The following passage recorded the parable of the sower, the parable of a lamp, the parable of the growing seed, and the parable of the mustard seed. If we carefully highlight the words “listen” or “hear”, we can easily tell that “listening” is one of the focus of his teaching. In the three books of the synoptic Gospels, only the Book of Mark referenced the word “Listen” in the parable of the sower. “Seeds” that were scattered on the ground symbolize the words of God (v.14). The status of a person’s heart (the ground) impacts how that person hears and reacts to God’s words.
(vv. 21-25) As we hear the words of God, we shall strive to live our lives following God’s way, like a lamp shining on a stand. God’s words are not meant to be hidden or concealed in our lives. In the parable of the sower, some seeds fall on fields that are not ideal for bearing fruits (e.g., seeds that are scattered along the path, rocky places, and among thorns). Similarly, if a person is not fully ready and open to receiving God’s word, his life may not be as fruitful as it can be. Will you choose to place the lamp under the bed or on the stand?
We not only hear God’s words ourselves; we will also share the gospel with others. We can evangelize to non-believers and seek opportunities for leading people to repent and believe in the Lord. We can share God’s words with believers and nurture each other’s lives through our fellowship in Christ. Both are wonderful ministry for the Lord! Do you often share God’s words with others? With the measure you use, do you use it on others? As we become a better listener of God’s words and be more eager to spread the gospel, we will be blessed more!
(vv. 26–34) The expansion of God’s kingdom is contingent upon the work of God in a person’s heart. God has spoken and his word is the living word, just as written in the Bible in our hands. Anyone who is willing to obey God’s commands will live out a life following God’s way very well. The word of God will be prosperous in this person’s life, like producing stalks, the heads, then the grains in the field. God’s kingdom will grow, just like the parable of the mustard seed growing into a branch.
How can I make God’s way more alive in my life? Search your heart on these issues: worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things. Then take action to get rid of these rocky places and thorns, the thoughts that would impact our ability to receive and react to God’s words.
(vv. 35–41) As is written in the last passage of this chapter, Jesus’ disciples were on a boat in an area they were familiar with and yet they encountered a life-threatening storm there. They woke up Jesus and saw Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the waves “Peace! Be Still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great clam. The disciples saw Jesus’s authority over nature and they were afraid of him. They were filled with great fear and said to each other, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Have you ever had fear for Jesus? When? We shall fear Him. Today, contemplate on the reasons why we should fear Jesus. Who is Jesus? We shall stand in awe of Jesus as He is Worthy. We shall honor him in all of our days!
Pray
Give thanks to God for His enabling us to read the Scriptures and for our response for living out the Word of God today! (e.g., You may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what/where are you going to lead me to today?”)