To hear me share this Morning Devotion in audible form, please click the link below
Jesus knew that most people hearing His words weren’t geniuses.
That’s why He so often used simple explanations and illustrations.
I am profoundly glad that He did so.
Because He so often spoke so simply, people like me can quickly comprehend most of what He taught.
Today’s reading in the One-Year Bible offers a very tangible teaching that requires little IQ to discern.
It does, however, require a high humility quotient to implement.
If we apply Jesus’ words in Mark 4:24-25, we’ll be both a vital vessel of blessing to others for God and we’ll be a vibrant recipient of blessings from God.
Now that’s something I want. Hopefully you want it, too.
Here is what Jesus said:
“Consider carefully what you hear,” He continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you — and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (NIV).
This is a classic, biblical illustration of the secular axiom: “What goes around comes around.”
Jesus’ words are SO simple.
Yet they are so true to life.
I am better for others and for myself whenever I apply them.
As I reflected on the passage this morning, my mind was filled with life examples that verify Christ’s words.
We’ve all observed a friend who readily forgave the offenses of family members and others in his or her life and, when our friend messed up, the forgiveness was reciprocal.
Sadly, we’ve seen the opposite occur as well.
The Mark 4:24-25 principle was also visible in the lives of friends who showed humble generosity to others at gift-giving times such as birthdays and weddings or when showing generosity toward total strangers in desperate need.
Even if the direct recipient did not — or could not — reciprocate, the Lord sent our friend a proportional blessing of greater value, though not necessarily in a monetary sense.
At the core of this principle is this message from God — “Trust me.”
If I trust God’s promise made by Christ in this passage, I’ll look for a bucket to fill up from my life so that I might share it with others.
If I lack trust in God’s promise, I’ll look for a thimble and I’ll get defensive, saying, “Hey, I’m giving you something so hush up!”
Crazy, huh? My getting chintzy with what was given to me and doesn’t really belong to me anyway?
You’re quite familiar with the teaching of Malachi 3:10 that promises a more-than-reciprocal response of blessing from God for those who obediently give 10 percent of all their income to God, i.e., they tithe.
It’s all about the vessel you grab for sharing with others.
Grab a bucket to fill and pour blessings (gifts, time, forgiveness, encouragement, etc.) into other lives and you’ll sometimes get more than a bucket sent back your way.
Grab a thimble, instead, and your receipt of gifts, time, forgiveness, encouragement, etc. will be negligible.
Just like the negligible amount of love and concern you have for others.
Like I said, it doesn’t take an intellectual genius to figure this stuff out.
It does take a humble, Christlike believer to live this stuff out, though.
Let’s try to be more like Jesus.
Reach for the bucket.
Life will be filled with more blessings for others and for ourselves if we do.
As always, I love you
Martin
