THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 4:9-12
“Otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!” (Mark 4:12; quoting Isaiah 6:9-10)
Why does Jesus want to hide His message in simple stories?
He is quoting from Isaiah 6, when God calls Isaiah to be His messenger.
But Isaiah’s message was a warning to a stubborn and rebellious people.
They pretended to be religious, but their hearts were far from God.
It’s not that they couldn’t hear God’s truth, but they wouldn’t here it.
In Jesus’ day, the simple people were drawn to Jesus’ simple message.
Not that they understood it, but their hearts were open to it, and to Him.
Not the religious leaders; they were proud and closed, so they could not hear.
Or rather, they would not hear, they refused to pay attention.
Have we become so ‘smart’ that we cannot hear God anymore?
We dismiss that voice of conviction as our imagination, or just our own minds.
We handle life our own way, we don’t need God anymore… supposedly.
God wants to help us, and to make our lives full (abundant, complete).
But unless we open our hearts and minds to God, we will not hear Him.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, where am I being stubborn, where am I being rebellious? Open my eyes and my ears to see and hear You, and to respond with repentance, trust and humble commitment to You.