“Growth Comes in the Night Also”

 “Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.”

(Mark 4:27closeMark 4:27 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. (ESV) closeMark 4:27closeMark 4:27 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. (ESV) 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. (ESV) ; from the Gospel reading for 6.17.12)

“Growth Comes in the Night Also”

 

 

Get To Know Your “Neighbor”

     + Have you ever planted a garden or a tree?

 

God’s Blueprint

     + Jesus uses the same imagery & Greek word for “seed sprouts” in Mt 13:26; in this passage, Jesus points out that when the good grain grows up; there are weeds which also grow up around them.      Do we realize the Devil, his fallen Angels & sinful human nature is working as hard as it can?

     + What is the proper balance between being a good farmer & trusting in God to take care of your “crop”?

 

God’s Best

     + Genesis 1:16closeGenesis 1:16 16 And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. (ESV) closeGenesis 1:16closeGenesis 1:16 16 And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. (ESV) 16 And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. (ESV) teaches us that God put lights in the sky at night so that it would be governed also.  Some nights however are so cloudy that we can’t see the stars.  But even when we can’t see the Light which God gave us, is the Light still there, working & being faithful?

     + What parts of our faith does God grow in us during these “dark nights” of our lives? 

     + Genesis 26:24closeGenesis 26:24 24 And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham's sake.” (ESV) closeGenesis 26:24closeGenesis 26:24 24 And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham's sake.” (ESV) 24 And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham's sake.” (ESV) tells us that it was at night when God came to Isaac and told him, “… don’t be afraid…”  God knows your circumstances.  How does difficulty help us listen more carefully for God?

     + Psalm 1:2closePsalm 1:2 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night. (ESV) closePsalm 1:2closePsalm 1:2 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night. (ESV) 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night. (ESV) teaches us that the person who meditates on God’s word in the “night” will be blessed.  Faith is that little “night light” that God gives us so that we can find the “breaker switch” (His word) to throw and restore His Light throughout our entire home.  A night light doesn’t seem necessary when the sun is shining; but in the pitch black it is all you need.  When did God give you your faith?

     + On Good Friday, in the middle of the day, the sun stopped shining & Jesus died for our sins.  God’s best comes to us in the darkest of times.

  

God’s Blessed

     + Today, we are one day closer to Jesus’ return than we were yesterday; does that make any difference how we think about tomorrow?

Jim Buckman