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Articles from April 2015

Questions: What are you looking for?

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Whether talking with the disciples, speaking in a public forum, or defending Himself before His enemies, Jesus consistently asked questions.  In the four gospels, Jesus asked over 300 questions.

 

What are you looking for?

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”  He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.  One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.  He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).

John 1:35-41

Monday_75167740_SOften I read a passage and can vividly insert myself into the scene. This particular story in John paints a familiar picture to me. Jesus walks by John the Baptist and two of his disciples and John shouts, “Behold the Lamb of God!” The two who are with him immediately begin to follow after Jesus. We don’t really know if they are compelled by curiosity or instantly know in their spirit that He is the Messiah.

Regardless of the reason, Jesus sees that they are walking behind Him and gently asks them one simple question: “What are you seeking?” He isn’t scolding or rejecting or scoffing at them in any way. Instead, He invites them to stop and consider what they are after.

Their response is classic, and it’s why I can most relate to the scene. Instead of answering the question, they deflect it by asking Jesus a question. “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Even though Jesus is fully aware that they completely overlooked His question, He keeps them engaged by inviting them to continue on the journey with Him. He already knows that what they are looking for will not be found in where He is actually going but rather in what they will discover about Him and about themselves as they spend more time with Him.

Many days I have heard the Lord whisper this same question to me as I busily move from one task to another, fretting about something or someone, yet refusing to stop and consider what I am doing. “What are you looking for, Jackie?” He asks quietly.

I don’t always know the answer to that question. Like the disciples I am tempted to just ask Him another. But, when I take some time, I often want the same thing that I think they wanted. A deep, abiding relationship with God. Peace. Rest. Joy. The day-to-day struggles can keep these longings buried if I let them.

What about you? For just a minute, imagine Jesus turning toward you to ask you this same question. If you don’t know what you would say, then consider what you are busy doing. Our actions tell us so much about what we really want. Tune into your thoughts. Our mental dialogue and the things that take up so much space in our heads often reveal our deepest desires. Lastly, become aware of how you are feeling both emotionally and physically, even now as you read this. Our emotions and physical state are greatly impacted by what we hold in our minds and by what we are doing with our hands.

Together, these typically reveal something about our deepest desires. Jesus invited the disciples to “Come and see” by allowing them to journey with Him. He invites us to do the same. When we seek Him by spending time with Him in prayer and in His Word, we will ultimately find what we are really looking for.

Jackie

Our Heart-Soil: Planting Seed

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Have you ever thought of your heart as a bed of soil for the seed of God’s Word to grow? When better than spring—a time known for new growth—to consider the soil of our hearts? How well does it allow the word of the Lord to grow? Won’t you join me this week as we search for answers? You might be as surprised by what we discover!

Planting Seed

“Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.”

Mark 4:13-14 NLT

Soil isn’t the only thing important for effective seed growth. The planting of the seed is just as vital because, without proper planting, no seed will grow.

Friday_Day_Five_Pic_#1-Onion_PlanterYears ago, I wanted to help my mother grow vegetables in our backyard garden. One day she asked me to plant the row of onions while she went inside to take care of something. “No problem, Mother, I can do that!” However, it seemed to take them a long while to come up. After no sight of onions for some time, my mother asked me if I’d ever even planted them. I assured her I had.

“Then why aren’t they showing,” she queried? Finally, she went out to check them herself and discovered that I’d placed each bulb in the ground pointy-side down. No wonder they weren’t growing. I’d planted them upside down. They’d never grow that way. Turns out I didn’t have any idea of how to plant the onions because I’d never actually seen her do it nor did I bother to ask. I mean, how hard could it be, right? You’ve got a bulb, you’ve got the ground, and you shove it in there, voila! I thought I knew. Had I simply asked, wouldn’t she have told me? Of course she would.

The same principle applies with spreading God’s Word. Read today’s Dose verse. God commands us to spread the Good News of salvation to others. But, if our hearts are not receptive to the Holy Spirit and God’s word, like those of the religious leaders Jesus spoke to in parables, we won’t be equipped to plant His seed to anyone.

Friday_Day_Five_Pic_#2-Hands_on_BibleWhen our hearts are right toward the Lord, the Holy Spirit works in and through us to plant the seed of God’s word into the hearts and lives of others. We need only be willing and ask Him to do so.

There are so many people around us who don’t know the hope of salvation and new life in Christ Jesus. Maybe you’re saying today that this is you, Dear Lady. Do you want Him to change you? He’s waiting to, just ask.

If you’re already a believer, have you asked the Master Planter how He wants to use you to effectively sew the seed of His Word into the lives of people within your sphere of influence today? He is faithful and will provide you with the answer.

Planting the seed,

Rita

Our Heart-Soil: Fertile Soil

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Have you ever thought of your heart as a bed of soil for the seed of God’s Word to grow? When better than spring—a time known for new growth—to consider the soil of our hearts? How well does it allow the word of the Lord to grow? Won’t you join me this week as we search for answers? You might be as surprised by what we discover!

Fertile Soil

“Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Mark 4:8 NLT

Thursday_Day_Four_Pic-TangerinesWhen I was in grade school I asked my father where babies came from. He told me a parent plants a seed and in about nine months the baby arrives. A few days later, I noticed him laughing with my mother while she showed him something. It was a picture that I’d drawn. My teacher had instructed us to make a drawing about where we came from. Based upon my excellent research, I drew a picture of my daddy planting seeds in a garden in one frame and my twin sister and me jumping up out of the ground in the next.

As we’ve considered the soil of our hearts this week, we’ve seen that hardened, shallow, and thorny soils have proven to be insufficient for growth. No precious seed could grow into a productive, multiplying crop in those beds. Likewise, no heart soil of those beds can manifest the type of fruit that the word of the Lord produces. So what soil is effective for growing great fruit? What kind of heart soil receives and allows the word of the Lord to grow?

Fertile soil is the answer. Women who’ve given birth to a lot of children are sometimes referred to as fertile myrtles. Myrtle was a popular baby name many years ago. I don’t know anyone with that name today but I’ve certainly heard the phrase. The fertile part of the phrase speaks for itself; she’s got a fruitful, lush, and productive womb, excellent for growing babies. My mother birthed six babies within an eight-year span. She was certainly a fertile myrtle! Read today’s Dose verse.

Fertile soil is neither too hard for seed absorption nor so shallow that it can’t sustain deep roots. It’s properly maintained to ensure thorns don’t grow up, strangle the seed, and impede its growth. We read in Mark 4:20, … the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted! The fertile soil didn’t just produce a standard amount of crop; it produced a hundred times more than was even planted! God gave that increase.

When we allow our hearts to be tender and receptive to the Word of God and the working of the Hoy Spirit, God gives an abundant increase to our humble and obedient efforts, for His glory.

Are you working with a fertile heart soil today, Sweet Friend? You can be.

Finding the fertile,

Rita