Mark wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “Take heed what you hear: with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that has, to him shall be given: and he that has not, from him shall be taken even that which he has. And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground. And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knows not how”, and in chapter four and verse twenty-eight of his book, Mark shares how Jesus said, “the earth brings forth fruit of herself” where we read:
For the earth brings forth fruit of herself;
first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
The verse reads, “For the earth brings forth fruit of herself; ” Mark began with the words, “for the earth” or “because, since and on account that the arable land, territory, region and ground” “brings for fruit” which means “produces and bears offspring and progeny” “of herself” which refers to “the grounds' own self”. Mark shared how Jesus said the “earth” produces “fruit” from itself.
The verse goes on to say, “first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” Mark added the words, “first the blade” or “the chief or first in growth is the green herbage or provender”, “then the ear” which means “afterward the plant produces the head of grain as standing out from the stalk”, “after that the full corn” or “and afterward the complete, lacking nothing and covered wheat, corn or grain” “in the ear” which means “within the head of grain as standing out from the stalk”. Mark shared how Jesus shared the order of growth of a fruit bearing plant.
When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how there is a process for a plant to bear “fruit”. After a seed is planted, a sprout comes out of the ground. That sprout turns into a stalk which bears “blades, ears” and eventually “full wheat or corn” from the ear in the stalk. God has a similar process for growing people when they are in a relationship with Him. First a person receives the “seed” of “God's word” into their hearts and this relates to “receiving Jesus as a personal Savior and Lord”. Next, they begin to grow in their relationship through the reading of His word, fellowship among the brethren and serving God in His Kingdom. Finally they begin to “reproduce” within other people as they bring them into fellowship with God through His Son Jesus. God desires “fruit” from His people, and when they receive His word and obey it, they have begun the process for producing “fruit” that is pleasing to God.
Next time Mark shares how Jesus declares when the “fruit is brought forth”, “he puts in the sickle, because the harvest is come”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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