I have finally realized that it was not the pastor but me. I slept to my hearts content the previous night and found his sermon not so boring. Now I can definitely make peace with the notion that there is something wrong with his delivery. In fact his content is even more appealing.
A small story of a hymn was also mentioned today. "Blessed Assurance" was written by a blind person. What it signifies that even in disability this person was able to see the promise in the Lord.
Another thing worth mentioning is the soulful rendition by Joshua and one lady. Even though I am writing the post after such a long time their voice still rings in my ear.
The reading was taken from Mark 4:26-32
We always desire to grow and rise to greater heights. If we are not growing then we are static, stagnant leading to unhappiness.
In the parable their is an imagery of a seed with the kingdom of God. It talks about the growth of the seed referring to the growth of the kingdom of God. Another parable about wheat refers to the separation in the kingdom of God. Another parable talks about spreading of the kingdom of God.
People came and asked that why do Jesus talk in parables. He replies that kingdom of God is so mysterious that you won't understand it without simplification.
There is a secret growth of the kingdom of God as emphasized in the imagery via seed in the parable. Farmer sows and forgets but the seed grows with the farmer returning at the time of harvest. It is God who brings the fruit for the farmer. Similarly the kingdom grows under the eyes of God
Through intervention, involvement, participation of God something small can be transformed into something big. We may spend our life to achieve something big but we may not succeed due to the absence of God's involvement, as we do not desire his involvement...
In the scripture we see so many lives although being small in stature and grandeur was transformed to heights of greatness, David in old testament is such an example.
In new testament we see that Jesus feeds so many with so little in quantity. When sometimes we think that we are not worthy so much to do the work of God but God has a purpose for us and makes work in different ways.
No one thought that cross is something great questioning the very of a God being crucified. But for others cross is where we get our salvation from. Throughout his life Jesus humbleness was making Him the savior of the world.
We may think that we do not have that much ability, think oneself to be small in various aspects, but God will deliver us from smallness we may feel of. We may be in despair, poverty, hunger, smallness but when Jesus works continuously in our life then He brings great joy, comfort and the potential within us to make us greater in our life. We just need to plant the seed. Unless we sow the seed we won't get fruit. Although it may be a small seed but it will grow using the power within us. Likewise in the fields of family, society, friends, church; we have to sow the seed of God so that it can grow and do miracles. Sometimes we may sow the seed of evil. Satan encourages us in doing so. So we need to be careful and watchful.
God causes seed to grow. We may decide to lead a particular kind of life to achieve greatness but it is quite possible that we might fail. This happens due to our dependence on other things than God. We need to make an effort with God and allow the seed to grow. God works in us to help us grow in the kingdom of God.
Some one said that "Do what you do thoroughly, pray over it heartily and leave the result to God." When we do that God works in our life.
A story widely used to encourage young people. There was an emperor. In the absence of any child he thought of entrusting his kingdom to one among the youths. He called upon every young person in his kingdom. He said that "I will give you all one seed each, take it, plant it and come back after a year". A young man took the seed and went home. He took care of it. As time passed by all those who had taken the seed was confident but not this guy. He was not happy as his plant was not growing. After a year every one who had taken the seed brought their plants to the king's court for judgment. But this guy was sad as his plant had not grown and did not know what to do. His mother then told him to be honest. So he took whatever he had to the king. Every body else seeing his plant made fun of him. King arrived and was happy to see so many well developed plant. He noticed this young man's pot which was empty. On seeing that he exclaimed "Behold this person is your future king" Every one was surprised. The king explained "the seed give to each one you was such that it would have never grown. Everybody except this guy was dishonest and had used their own seed"
God has given us the seed. Many times we struggle to make it grow. We put our own seed to portray that the seed has grown. But we need to grow using the seed which God has given us. But if the seed fails to grow we need to be honest and as God for its purpose. We need to accept the kingdom of God with all honesty and sincerity and then God will take us from smallness to heights of glory.
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