We are going to dig right into the God’s Word today by taking a look at one of the first parables that Jesus ever told. You see by this point in His ministry, He had become very popular and large multitudes were coming to see him. However, a change had taken place. Crowds were pressing in all around him – but they were coming to be healed, not to hear him. More and more, healing was becoming the preeminent attraction. These people had shut their minds off, turned their hearing aids off, and were intently seeking only the deeds that were performed. They were thrill-seekers…but they weren’t along for the ride.
They wanted to be “Wowed,” but they didn’t want relationship.
It was for this reason that Jesus began to speak in parables. He hid the truth as he spoke so that people’s curiosity would be aroused and they would ponder and think through the thinks he was saying. I’m going to ask you to do the same with me this morning. I want you to ponder the words that Jesus is saying. I want you to think it through. I want to invite you to chew on it a little bit and let it settle within.
Mark 4:21-25, “And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” ESV
Now this parable was intended to call the attention of the disciples to the Word of Christ. By His instructing them, they were made able to instruct others. Just as candles are lit and not intended to be covered in order to give light and a fresh scent to the room. But one statement really stuck with me this week and it is v. 22
“For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.” (NIV)
I don’t know about you, but I’m going to confess one thing to you right now. I’m a festerer. I just have little things that bug me, that get under my skin and I know they shouldn’t be bugging me…so I just let them fester. I just write them down in my mind (my personal on-line journal) and I just stick them right there…in my secret little pouch. Oh yes, I carry them around with me everywhere. Everywhere I go. I’m especially good at this with my spouse. And when something happens that bothers me, rather than letting him know, I just jot it down. Right there. Put it in my mental storage unit.
It’s the secret things that get us into a whole heap of trouble.
It’s the secret things: the things we do or think when nobody else is watching. When we think there is no way that we’re gonna get caught doing this. I’m not hurting anybody. Nobody will ever find out.
Well, you’ve probably heard the old saying “Your sin will find you out.” And oh, brother, if it doesn’t find you out in this lifetime, then it sure will find you out in eternity.
“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” Luke 12:2
You see it’s the little things that can get us into trouble and we should be in the habit of confessing those little things to God.
- I yelled at my kids today, just lost it. They were driving me crazy.
- I disrespected my spouse today. He’s been real critical to me lately and so when he told me to do something, I just did a little huffy breath….”What are you, a know-it-all” “Who died and made you the chief?”
- A pop-up appeared on my computer (you know what I’m talking about) while I was at work today, and I took a little peak. “I’m not hurting anyone. My wife doesn’t need to know about that.”
- I’m bored at work today…it’s been so slow in the office. I’m just going to gamble a little bit. I’ve got some play money that my wife doesn’t know about. It’s no big deal.
- My husband has been working a lot lately and I’m lonely. “I’m going to get on facebook for awhile and see what my old boyfriend is up to. I don’t need to tell anyone that I’m romanticizing about what used to be.”
We should be in constant communication with God according to I Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray continually.” And not only should we be talking to Him, we should make it a habit to practice confession.
Psalm 4:4, “Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.”