The Second 50: Reflections on Life and News from the Other Side

The Habit of Encouragement

    There are times when we are afforded insight into the habits and private life of the historical figure called Jesus.  It is a different way to appreciate the character of the man whose historical influence has been great.

    The opening verse of Mark 10 actually touches on two (2) habits.  The first is the habit or custom of people to seek encouragement and guidance.  That habit still exists today.  People want to be encouraged in a spiritual sense.  Perhaps it is a need to be spiritually encouraged.

The Unique Issues of Position and Influence

    The historical story of Jesus teaching in the synagogue of his hometown has lessons for all of us.  Mark 6 relays an account where those who grew up with Jesus were blown away by the wisdom and insight of his teaching.  The account in Mark 6 says they were astonished.

    The understandable question arose as to how was is that Jesus gained such wisdom and insight.  Those who knew him as a boy focused on his family roots.  They noted that his brothers and sisters still lived in the community, and of course these siblings did not possess the wisdom and insight that Jesus shared.  

    Unspoken is the fact that those listening also did not possess the wisdom and insight that accompanied the teaching of Christ.  Instead of enjoying the teachings, it became clear that a jealousy arose as to why Jesus was privileged to have the influence that wisdom and insight can bring. It is easy to question why others have position, influence and power that we do not enjoy...and be offended on the inside, or perhaps wonder why him, and not me.

A Productive Life in Today's World

    The story told by the historical figure named Jesus about the sower focuses on another group of people. This is a group who hears and receive God's word in their heart but never become productive in a spiritual sense although they remain receptive to spiritual matters.  (Mark 4: 18-19)

    This group does not have the word taken from their heart by the enemy as Jesus discussed earlier in the story.  Nor does this group drift away because of persecution or hard times in life which Jesus talked about as well.  

    Instead, this group hears and receives the word sown in their heart but never become fruitful and productive from a spiritual perspective.  The reason is simple.  

    Their spiritual perspective in life never becomes quite clear. They are unfruitful because their life focus is on the cares of life, or the deceitfulness of riches or their eye of the tiger is on fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.

Spiritual Encouragement....People Do Listen

    The story of the sower extends to another group of individuals.  The historical figure named Jesus refers to this group as those who live among the 'thorns of life'.  The use of the terms 'thorns' of course is an interesting one.  Thorns suggest something an environment that is uninviting, prickly, easy to stick you and sharp pains. (Mark 4: 14-18)

    That is the environment for many.  Yet, even in this environment, those present listened to what the sower had to say.  People listen and take to heart when they are encouraged to have a personal relationship with God. In fact, they want to be encouraged to have faith and a relationship with God.

The Challenges of Life & Dissed for One's Beliefs

    In the story of the sower who encourages men to have a spiritual relationship with God, the historical figure named Jesus shares a sober truism about the challenges of life, and the consequences of living out one's faith.  This sober reality is said to apply to those who gladly hear and accept the value of a personal relationship with God.

    The challenges of life can discourage them from maintaining a personal relationship with God.  Those times when they are put down and criticized can also discourage them from maintaining a personal relationship with God.  (Mark 4:16 - 17).  It is always hard to know, upon meeting a person, whether he "gladly heard' in his heart the value of a relationship with God, but turned away because of a harsh criticism or put down, or because of the extreme discouragement that life can sometimes bring.

    We must always encourage men to never give up seeking to know God in a personal way.  That is the lesson for the sowers...those who encourage others to seek and maintain a personal relationship with God.  It is hard to fathom that clear that this historical figure called Jesus was simply a good man when one thinks about his story of the sower and how people responded to the encouragement to put God first in their live, i.e., the word.

There Are Those Who Will Gladly Hear

    The historical figure called Jesus addresses two (2) additional reason why men do not live true to the spiritual word they receive in their lives.

In the story about the sower Jesus shares there will be those who hear he word gladly when it is shared with them. (Mark 4:16-17).

    It is difficult to know if this second group was seeking God in their lives.  The one thing that is clear is that the sower shared the word about a relationship with God with them.  If we are to follow the example of this historical figure named Jesus there must be times when we play the role of the sower and encourage men to seek God. This is indeed the art of leadership at its very highest...to encourage men to seek to become their very best.

   The story of the sower sheds light on the impact of encouraging men to have a personal relationship with God.  It is hard to reconcile the idea that Jesus was merely a good man when virtually every story and event he shares discusses how men ought to relate to God.  Sheer logic compels the conclusion that Jesus was more than a good man.

The Sower and the Second Camp

    Today's reflections about the historical figure named Jesus touches on a different part of a story he tells about a sower who sows the word. If one is inclined to believe that Jesus was simply a good man, there is little doubt that in this story that he is addressing how people respond to hearing about a spiritual relationship with God.

    The story Jesus tells about the sower focuses on a second group.  This is a group that is described as "gladly" hearing what is said about a relationship with God.  Unlike the first group, the word is not taken from their hearts when they hear about a relationship with God.

    This second group is described as one which does not have any depth to their character, or perhaps their spiritual relationship with God.  Jesus describes them in an interesting way.  He says they 'endure for a time'.  That leaves the impression that they like what is said about a relationship with God and live a life consistent with what is shared with them. (Mark 4:16-17)

Stolen v Glad Received

    The spiritual dimension of our lives is real.  The historical figure named Jesus talked about the responses of people when they heard the word. It is clear from the context Jesus uses the word to reference a relationship with God.  It is difficult, if not impossible to say that Jesus was merely a good man because virtually every comment and emphasis focused on a man's relationship with God. Well, perhaps that is how a "good man' truly lives.

    The "Sower sows the word"  (Mark 4: 14).  The first group that Jesus references are those who hear the word by have it immediately taken from them by the devil (or Satan). The second group are those Jesus referenced to as being "stony ground".  We know those folks heard the word 'gladly". We never actually learn how the first group responded to the comments about a spiritual relationship with God.  All we know is the encouragement to have a relationship with God was taken away from them.  We also know that the "stony group' enjoyed hearing about a relationship with God. (Mark 4:16). 

The Case for for Daily Meditation

    My oldest son (Jonah) left for Helsinki to try out for a professional soccer team.  He has graduated from college at UAB and despite four (4) years of playing soccer there has a passion that burns brighter than ever to continue playing.  Although he will only be there a month, I have the sense this is a life changing event as he steps fully into the career world.

    I decided to share with him a few of the verses which have been a pillar of strength for me over the years.  One of the verses was Joshua 1:8 where God, according to biblical accounts talks to Joshua about becoming the leader for the people of Israel after Moses had passed away.  The emphasis placed on a daily mediation could not be clearer, nor could the words: "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth but you shall meditate on it day and then, for then you will be careful to do all that is written in it and then you will have good success".  (Joshua 1:8).

    The effective leader meditates on the words of scriptures as he navigates the issues and challenges of life.

Takeaways in the Game of Life

    I enjoyed watching tidbits of the football game between the Saint Louis Cardinals and the Greenbay Packers. The game pulsated with excitement as the teams moved up and down the field scoring on each other.  The final play of the game was a takeaway. The quarterback was stripped of the ball, i.e. a fumble that led to a touchdown by the Cardinals.

    It can hardly be disputed that the historical figure called Jesus viewed issues in life from a spiritual perspective.  If one is inclined to believe this Jesus was merely a good man, the explanation Jesus gives of the parable of the sower raises unique questions.  

  Jesus describes a takeaway situation in the game of life!  He says that when some hear the word sowed by the sower that immediately, meaning right then without a moment's delay, Satan takes away the word that they heard. (Mark 4:15)

    A takeaway...in the game of life. If Jesus was an unusually good man, why, one wonders, would he tell a story about a person hearing about a relationship with God and the significance of that relationship being taken from them?