Living in the Spirit

June 12, 2021

Scripture Reading: Mark 4:26-34

He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’

He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’

With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

I value scientists because they have the tenacity to try to understand the wonders of our world. This ability in no way discounts God, the Creator. If anything, it deepens respect for God in various ways. By planting the seeds of curiosity and exploration in humans, we have soared to heights unknown and still have only tapped the basics in many areas. Jesus said in John 14:12, Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Jesus was clear God expects much out of God’s children. In the parable of the talents, a man going on a journey entrusted talents to his servants while he was away. When the man returned, the first two servants reported that they had increased the number of talents left in their care. The third said that he buried the talent entrusted to him because he was afraid the man would be angry if it came to harm. Indeed, the man was mad that the talent had not been used, much less multiplied*. In this example, talent designates what we would call money today. I believe it has a deeper and richer meaning to include all of our abilities to make the world a better place for everyone and enable everyone to contribute their talents in the process.

Prayer: Lord, Help us each to hone our skills and practice them in your service. Also, help us enable others to do the same. Amen.

*See Matthew 25:14–30

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.