Into The Breach – Practices Of A Christian ManSample

Day 4 — Read the Bible

Read: Mark 4:14-20

The Scriptures offer many images for God’s word: it is a light to guide our path (Psalm 119:105), an intense fire and powerful hammer (Jeremiah 23:29), and a sharp two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). In his parable, Jesus says that the word of God is fertile seed that the sower sows in the field (v. 14). Some of the seed falls on the paths that crisscross the fields. These seeds are quickly pecked away by the birds before they could sprout. Other seed falls on rocky ground where the soil is thin. While these seeds start sprouting, they are unable to grow roots and are quickly scorched by the sun’s heat. Some seed falls among the thorns that quickly grow up with the grain seeds. These plants grow well for a while but are eventually choked off by the thorns before they can produce grain. All of these seeds have the capacity to grow into grain-producing stalks, but they are prevented from achieving their potential by the environment in which they are planted. 

The word of God is alive in the inspired texts of Scripture and in the church’s living tradition. God calls us through the church to make reading the Bible and reflecting on its meaning a regular part of our lives in Christ. But there are many reasons why the word of God does not take root and grow in our lives: temptations, tribulations, persecutions, worldly anxiety, and the lure of riches. Only providing rich soil for the seed allows it to grow and bear abundant fruit (v. 20). The variety of responses to the seed of God’s word can represent distinct types of people, but more probably, they represent the different responses of each of us at different times. Jesus tells us that the potently fertile seed of God’s word requires the personal cooperation of each of us to take the word to heart and allow it to transform our lives. 

REFLECT: What limits or threatens the seed of God’s word from bearing fruit in my life? 

PRAY: Saving and redeeming God, who has given your word as seed for the world, help me to remove whatever threatens or limits the growth of your word within me so that my life will bear fruit and produce a harvest for your kingdom.