Mark 4:21-25 (TPT) Parable of the Lamp
21 He also gave them this parable: “No one lights a lamp only to place it under a basket or under the bed. It is meant to be placed on a lampstand. 22 For there is nothing that is hidden that won’t be disclosed, and there is no secret that won’t be brought out into the light! 23 If you understand what I’m saying, you need to respond!”[do what the Word tells you]
24 Then he said to them, “Be diligent to understand the meaning behind everything you hear, for as you do, more understanding will be given to you. And according to your longing to understand,[live in the truth] much more will be added to you. 25 For those who listen with open hearts will receive more revelation. But those who don’t listen with open hearts will lose what little they think they have!”[we must have an open heart to receive the truth of God.]
Do you long to live in the truth of God? That has always been the Father’s pure desire for us as his human creation. He wanted truth for us so much that in the Old Testament God gave the Torah as a lamp to give light on how Israel was to live if they wanted fellowship with him. Satan deceived with lies, but God was faithful to reveal the truth. In the New Testament, God gave the living Torah, his Son the Light of the world, so we would have a perfect human example to follow. Jesus gathered more and more disciples around him and taught them how to live in the truth. “Jesus explained, ‘I am the Way, I am the Truth, [true reality] and I am the Life. No one comes next to the Father [our destination] except through union with me [we must connect to Christ through faith]. To know me is to know my Father too’” (John 14:6).
In our passage today, Jesus shares a parable; a story that explains with examples from every day life the truth about the Kingdom. The parables not only challenged Jesus’ listeners, they have the power to challenge us today as readers of the Word. We must pay attention to what we hear from Scripture and ask the Spirit to bring understanding on how it should influence the way we live. The Spirit desires to bring the truth about our God out into the open. Jesus tells just enough to get his listeners to seek God in order to learn more about the mysteries of life. The Word becomes like a seed that sits in the soil of our hearts and eventually grows into spiritual fruit as we seek to apply the truth to our lives. Then, we go out and tell others the Good News.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for bringing the Light of truth to my heart. With every Word I read, help me to listen for the mysteries you want to reveal to my heart about your will and purpose for me. I long to live in your truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.