- And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. Mark 4:36 – After speaking to a massively large crowd, Jesus had His disciples set sail across the sea. What follows is the familiar story of Jesus calming the stormy sea. Something though I hadn’t noticed in scripture until today was that last sentence within our verse. “And other boats were with him.” Which make sense, with such a massive crowd following Him, when Jesus set sail across the sea that many other boats would do the same. Likely they were filled with people just trying to get to wherever Jesus was going to. What this means though is that many other boats, all filled with people, were also in the storm that Jesus’ boat was in. They too thought their end was near, and they had no Jesus sleeping in their boat to wake up. Yet when Jesus spoke the words to rebuke the wind, saving all those on His boat, He also saved all those within the boats around Him. Let us remember that the power of Jesus’ words not only have the power to save us, but has the power to save all those around us to who are suffering in the storms of life. This whole chapter is establishing the power of God’s word and how when planted in a ready heart, it can grow to nourish the one its planted in. Let’s then be sharing the word of God with all the “other boats” around us. For it can free all those on the other boats and it can save all those on the other boats. If God’s word has the power to create the universe and calm the deadly storm, it also has the power to change the life its planted within. Be about the planting of God’s word within the lives of those around you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3095
- The sower sows the word. Mark 4:14 – In this parable, a variety of things happen to the seed that is thrown out. Some grows, some gets eaten, even some bear fruit like it’s supposed to. While the end product is different for the different seeds, something that is common between all of them was there was a sower spreading the seed. For us, we can’t predict how the Word is taken when we share it. Sometimes people will dismiss it clearly. Other times it will grab a hold of their heart deeply and they’ll follow Jesus from then on. What we must keep doing is spreading the Word regardless. Pray that when you share God’s Word with people that it will sink deep into their lives and take root. Just don’t let the fact that some seed sowing won’t grow a huge fruit stop you from sowing at all. Trust that in even the situations that seem like it was a dismissal of God’s Word that God can still use that witness in their lives. Just keep sharing the Word with people. You never know when your sharing will begin the growth in someone’s life of something absolutely beautiful. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 459
- Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. Mark 4:3 – A sower went out to sow. Someone who knew what their role was actually went out and did their role to the fullest. Is that you? Do you have the gift of encouragement? Did you use that today to it’s fullest? Are you a small group leader? Did you carry that role out to the fullest you could today? Are you a prayer warrior? Did you actually pray like a warrior today? It’s one thing to know your role, it’s another to carry it out. You may be a pastor, a teacher, a listener, a caretaker, a friend, a brother, a mother, a sower…but if you didn’t sow today then truly what are you doing? God has gifted you in amazing ways and blessed you with unique traits that allow you to pour into your church and community in the very ways they deeply need. Yet if you, the one who God gifted and placed in your spot for a reason, doesn’t do what they were created to do, then what are you doing? Know your role and do you role. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1613
Daily DEVO 