Skip to main content

Even More

Mark 4:24-25 "Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you - and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."

This verse is fascinating to me.  I've been reading a little around this passage trying to figure out what in the world Jesus meant when he said this.  The surrounding parables and scripture in Mark and Matthew are about putting to use what has been given, whether it be seeds, coins or light.  So I thought on this a bit.  I believe Jesus was referring to himself.  He was saying, with the measure that we utilize Jesus, we will be given more of Him.  I'm drawing a little on my own experience here, for this is something I have noticed.  When Mom was sick and we were needing the Spirit, grace was poured out perfectly and enormously.  For instance, on Sunday mornings, the grace I received to share with others while Mom was sick was something I cannot even describe.  My soul would soar on those mornings, even in the midst of the sadness of the situation.  I've said before that it was like getting a booster shot of grace. Then, after her passing and through the week of her life celebration and internment, I felt an incredibly strong and deep presence of the Spirit throughout that time, but especially when we were going to be with people.  I know it was because we were working hard to get out the way and let God's glory be revealed in, around and through us in this entire circumstance.  I truly believe we were given the "even more" during those times.  We are called to live in Christ and when we do and are able to make our lives completely about Him, we are given so much of Him that we cannot even begin to fathom the work that He is able to do in, around and through us.  

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mercy and Compassion

Jude 22-23 Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. This is something I have struggles with, loving those who frustrate me.  How can we be merciful to those who are "corrupt" without being judgmental?  It is definitely not our place to judge one another, it is our place to love one another.  Sometimes loving the people who are rude or cruel is the hardest part of being a Christian.  My humanity would like to judge people for their behaviors and choices and lash out at them.  I believe we are only able to show true mercy and compassion for others when we accept these for ourselves from Jesus and then He lives them through us.  Allowing God to change our hearts in order that Jesus' mercy and compassion shine through is a journey.  It's not always easy.  On those difficult days, I remain quiet and ask God to love on me, so I...

The Heart of Jesus

John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. I have had a difficult time finding a single verse today.  I have been all over my Bible, reading and thinking.  I'm settling on this verse, mostly because it is closely related to one of my favorite verses.  I sometimes get caught up in thinking I need to do certain things to grow in my faith.  These things are not inherently bad, nor are they necessarily good.  Two big stumbling blocks for me are fasting and tithing.  I find myself getting hooked into the religious value of them rather than the relational value.  I find that spending time with God gives me a clearer picture of my own motives for wanting to do these things.  I find that I usually feel the need to fast when I'm feeling poorly about my body image.  I find that wanting to tithe usually comes after reading verses in the Old Testament about God blessing Israel for its offerings.  Both of these are mot...

For Mom

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. This is a post for Mom.  She is the embodiment of these words written by Paul.  When I think of Mom and who God created her to be, this is it.  Each of these phrases describes her perfectly.  Mom learned very early on in her walk with Jesus to let Him have His way in her life.  Who she is and has been to people is the testament to that.  Her patience with a super naughty 2-year old, namely me, rivaled that of Job.  I don't ever remember her getting angry.  Quite frankly, Mom and the word angry in the same sentence is laughable.  She never bragged or boasted about us (even though we know she's proud of us) because that wouldn't be showing love to her listener.  Mom was never rude, she was always serving others, and she was never jud...