Visible, measurable results!

Reflecting on Mark 4:21-25

“With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.” (Mark 4:24)
As a Jesus follower, I need to produce measurable results for God.
That is, the effect of the seed needs to be visible, not concealed.
This section (Mark 4:21-25) continues from what precedes it.
Jesus just described the measurable results of those who hear His message.
“Some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” (Mark 4:20)
This is what Jesus expects will happen when we receive the seed.
And He promises that what we produce will be multiplied.
“Whoever has (thirty, sixty, one hundred) will be given more!” (Mark 4:25).
But the unproductive seed will lose out on God’s goodness in Jesus.

We are not blessed because we are fruitful; we are fruitful because we are blessed.
The seed (goodness of God in Jesus) is freely given in abundance.
The Spirit of Life from God in Jesus is alive and active in us.
The seed grows by itself, as we will see in the next section (Mark 4:26-29).
But it needs good, receptive soil to grow in.
We do not produce the crops, but we provide the good soil for them to grow.
The ‘good soil’ is our willingness and effort to receive it.
Peter, who heard Jesus teach this parable, understood our role as ‘good soil’.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:3-4)

God measures out His divine power to us through Jesus.
But we are not passive, we need to participate in the process.

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7)

We receive the seed by faith, but we make every effort to multiply it.
We have been yoked with Jesus, but we cannot just stand still.
He is our main strength to carry the load, but we must pull too.
Our growth will start small, but together with Jesus we will grow!

“For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.” (2 Peter 1:8-9)

With the measure we use, we will be measured more, and even more will be added.
The buried seed will not be concealed, but will be revealed and seen by its fruit.
God is at work in us, but we need to be at work with God.
“Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning.” (Dallas Willard)

So the question for me is, what am I doing with the seed planted in me?
Am I making every effort to multiply it, to possess it in increasing measure?
Jesus has promised that He will multiply my weak efforts.
In other words, all that He asks is that I try, that I make the effort to grow.
And growth will come if I make the effort, little by little, more and more.

Be honest about the effort you are putting in to it.
Be specific about the things that you are doing to help you grow.
What area of the fruit of the Spirit are you focusing on?
The results you see, says Jesus, will relate to the effort you put into it.

As a Jesus follower, I need to produce measurable results for God.
Not to be saved, but because I am in Jesus, and Jesus is in me.
I am called and chosen by God’s grace to participate in this new life.
He has given me everything I need to grow, including the effort to try.
For my part, I need to cooperate…

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:10-11)

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You message is meant to produce visible results, to change the way I live and love. You made the effort needed to save me, and are asking me to make the effort to work out my salvation.

Help me to work out my salvation with serious and sincere effort (fear and trembling), knowing that God is at work in me to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose!