Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year TwoSample

Some [seed] fell on stony ground (Mark 4:5 NKJV).

Is your heart soft or hard?

As we ponder this question, our passage unfolds with Mark vividly portraying a man with a withered hand, a synagogue crowd captivated by the Messiah, and the clash between legalism and compassion. Jesus encounters a man with a withered hand, intentionally positioned by religious leaders as a potential pawn in their attempt to entrap Jesus on the Sabbath. Entering this narrative from Mark 3:1, we witness Jesus, unafraid of men, confronting religious hypocrisy with righteous anger and grief over the hardness of their hearts.

Unruffled by their judgment, Jesus commands the man to stretch out his hand, and in that moment, healing occurs, restoring the withered hand to its fullness. This narrative extends beyond physical healing; it's a confrontation revealing spiritual hardness.

God's revelation through creation (general revelation) and the Word (special revelation) showcases His mighty power. Nevertheless, these religious legalists reject His revelation, consequently hardening their hearts. Let's not emulate the self-righteous religious community that hardened its heart, but instead, cultivate a heart that is tender and receptive to God’s word.

Employment Point: Submit to the One who reveals His vast power through creation and the Word, in order not to have a hard heart.