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(Translated version, original article written in Chinese by Pastor Mickey Hsiao)<\/em><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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!<\/strong>) (e.g., you may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what will you be speaking to me today?)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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)!<\/p>\n Scripture Reading: Mark Ch. 4 (ESV)<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read the devotional articles prepared by CBCLWA (*Read the Bible first before reading any devotional materials.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n (vv. 1-<\/span>20)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>As written in this chapter, Jesus spoke of several parables<\/span>. In verse 3, his teaching\u00a0<\/span>began with<\/span>\u00a0the word\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/b>Listen\u201d<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0The following passage recorded the parable of the\u00a0<\/span>sower,<\/span>\u00a0the parable of<\/span>\u00a0a lamp,\u00a0<\/span>the parable of\u00a0<\/span>the growing seed, and the\u00a0<\/span>parable of the\u00a0<\/span>mustard seed. If we carefully highlight\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>words \u201clisten\u201d or \u201chear\u201d,\u00a0<\/span>we can easily tell\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>\u201clistening\u201d is<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>one of the\u00a0<\/span>focus of his teaching.\u00a0<\/span>In the three\u00a0<\/span>books\u00a0<\/span>of the\u00a0<\/span>synoptic\u00a0<\/span>Gospel<\/span>s<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>only\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>Book<\/span>\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>Mark<\/span>\u00a0referenced the word\u00a0<\/span>“<\/span><\/b>Listen\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0in the parable of the sower.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>S<\/span>eeds<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0that were\u00a0<\/span>scattered on the ground<\/span>\u00a0symbolize the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>words<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>of God (<\/span>v.<\/span>14).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The status of a person\u2019s heart (the ground) impacts\u00a0<\/span>how that person hears and reacts to\u00a0<\/span>God\u2019s words<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n (vv.\u00a0<\/span>2<\/span>1-<\/span>25)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>As we hear the word<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0of God, we shall strive to\u00a0<\/span>live our lives following\u00a0<\/span>God\u2019s way, like a lamp shining on a stand.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>God\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>words are not meant to be hidden or\u00a0<\/span>concealed<\/span>\u00a0in our lives<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0In the parable of the sower, some seeds fall on fields\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0not ideal\u00a0<\/span>for bearing fruits\u00a0<\/span>(e.g., seeds that are scattered along the path, rocky places, and among thorns). Similarly, if a person is not<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>fully\u00a0<\/span>ready and\u00a0<\/span>open to receiv<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0God\u2019s word, his life may not be as fruitful as it can be.\u00a0<\/span>Will you choose to place the lamp under the bed or on the stand?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We not only hear God\u2019s words ourselves; we w<\/span>ill<\/span>\u00a0also share the gospel with others. We can evangelize to non-believers and seek opportunities for leading people to repent and believe in the Lord.\u00a0<\/span>We can\u00a0<\/span>share God\u2019s words with believers\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0nurture\u00a0<\/span>each other’s lives<\/span>\u00a0through our\u00a0<\/span>fellowship in Christ<\/span>. Both are wonderful ministry for the Lord<\/span>! Do you\u00a0<\/span>often\u00a0<\/span>share God’s\u00a0<\/span>words\u00a0<\/span>with others?\u00a0<\/span>With the measure you use, do you use it on\u00a0<\/span>others?\u00a0<\/span>As we become<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a better listener of God\u2019s words and be more eager to spread the gospel, we will be blessed more<\/span>!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n (vv.\u00a0<\/span>26<\/span>–<\/span>34)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>expansion of God\u2019s kingdom is contingent upon\u00a0<\/span>the work of God<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>a person\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>heart.\u00a0<\/span>God has spoken<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>h<\/span>is word is the living word,\u00a0<\/span>just\u00a0<\/span>as written in the Bible in our hands. Anyone who is willing\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0obey God\u2019s commands<\/span>\u00a0will live out a life following God\u2019s way very well<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0T<\/span>he word of God<\/span>\u00a0will be prosperous in this person\u2019s life, like producing stalks, the heads, then the grains in the field. God\u2019s kingdom will grow, just like the parable of the mustard seed growing into a branch.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How can I\u00a0<\/span>make God’s\u00a0<\/span>w<\/span>ay<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>more\u00a0<\/span>alive in my life?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Search your heart on these issues<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things<\/span>. Then take action to get rid of the<\/span>se rocky places and thorns, the thoughts that would impact our ability to receive and react to God\u2019s words.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n (vv.\u00a0<\/span>35<\/span>–<\/span>41)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>As\u00a0<\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>written in the last\u00a0<\/span>passage of this chapter<\/span>, Jesus\u2019 disciples were on a boat in an area they were familiar with and yet they\u00a0<\/span>encountered a<\/span>\u00a0life-threatening\u00a0<\/span>storm<\/span>\u00a0there. They woke up\u00a0<\/span>Jesus<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>saw Jesus\u00a0<\/span>rebuke<\/span>d<\/span>\u00a0the wind and said to the waves\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/b>Peace<\/span><\/b>! Be Still<\/span><\/b>!<\/span><\/b>\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>And the wind ceased, and there was a great clam.\u00a0<\/span>The disciples saw Jesus<\/span>\u2019s authority over\u00a0<\/span>nature<\/span>\u00a0and they were afraid of him.\u00a0<\/span>They were\u00a0<\/span>filled with great fear and said to<\/span>\u00a0each other<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>“Who\u00a0<\/span><\/b>then\u00a0<\/span><\/b>is this<\/span><\/b>, that even the wind and the sea obey him?<\/span><\/b>\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Have you ever had fear for Jesus<\/span>? When?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>We\u00a0<\/span>shall f<\/span>ear Him. Today,\u00a0<\/span>contemplate\u00a0<\/span>on the reasons why we should fear Jesus<\/span>. Who is Jesus?<\/span>\u00a0W<\/span>e shall stand in awe of Jesus as He is Worthy<\/span>. We shall honor him in all of our\u00a0<\/span>days<\/span>!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWorship<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Thanksgiving<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Scripture Reading<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Meditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Devotional<\/strong><\/h3>\n