Welcome to Day 12 of our 40 Day challenge! Mark 4:26-41

(Catch up with us, with our reading list March, reading list for April,  and Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11)

Today we are in Mark 4:26-41:

---

The Parable of the Growing Seed

²⁶ He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

³⁰ Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? ³¹ It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. ³² Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

³³ With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.³⁴ He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Jesus Calms the Storm

³⁵ That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

 

I can picture Jesus speaking to the storm. I can imagine myself there, terrified, and justifiably so. We have the advantage of knowing how it works out. We know Jesus has the power over the storm. But this was the first time the disciples had seen this happen. They didn’t know. How could they? But Jesus held them accountable for knowing. Why were they so afraid? He sent them on the boat. He went with them. He was there with them. Why were they so afraid? This is a question for me in my life as well.

We know that in each trial or struggle we find ourselves in, the Lord can either remove it or redeem it. We will be fine either way. We are completely safe in His hands.
And when I am on a path He sent me down, do I know, really know, He is there with me? I need discernment to know whether the storm is natural or if something supernatural has been sent against me so I know how to pray. But either way, He is there with me. This is something I both fall face-down in awe over and often take for granted.

Whether He removes trials or redeems them, our growth is what God is after. We are in training for reigning. Our experiences of God, of His power, His comfort, and His guidance in each circumstance build up stones in the altars of our lives, giving us the ability more and more to see His hand in our circumstances. We can then look back and see, well, God got me through those hard times, He will get me through these. We will know His character and His power through these experiences and tell ourselves again and again what He has done. I think this is why Israel kept repeating the story of the Exodus to the generations after. We tell what God has done to remind ourselves what He can do. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Who is this? Even the winds and waves obey Him!

Father, help me remember you are here with me in each circumstance. When the storm rages, remind me of all the times you have calmed the storms.

Options for further  journaling or discussion throughout the challenge:

• Choose a part of the passage to write out by hand. Writing by hand helps us slow down and focus on what the Lord might highlight for us in the passage. Our brains can focus and remember better by writing than just reading alone.
• Journal about what the passage brings to mind. Does the passage tell us anything about God? Does it tell us anything about our response to Him?
• Does your heart respond in gratitude to any part of the passage? Write or pray your gratitude to the Lord.

 

We’ll see you next time, for Day 13 and Mark 5:1-20

♥ Samantha