October 29, 2015:  SOAP #2156:

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 4:2 He taught them many things by parables… 33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable…

Observation:  Parables were stories about common everyday items or experiences that people would readily recognize.  Jesus used what was easily recognized and understood to explain things that could not be seen.    Here is a personal example from earlier today:  On my school bus route I pass several fields that look like crop failures.  The plants were all dried and brown with dead leaves.  It appeared they had not had enough moisture.  But today, there were combines in the fields harvesting the fruit that remained in those dead plants.  There was something so valuable in that field that the owner hired combines to reap the crop.  Today was the day the owner had in mind when he planted that fields months ago.

Application:  Those plants looked older than I think I look (Ha), but in their “old age” they had the most value to their owner.  I am valuable to my Lord.  It could be that in my old age I have more value to Him than at any other time in my life.

Prayer:   Lord, I want you to get the best possible harvest from my life.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!