by Daniel Dangoor
Read: Mark 4:1-20
“Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?” Mark 4:13
When the Eternal One decided that His Glory should be exalted above everything – when He that decided His name should be worthy of all the praise and all the worship – He did not plan to create the Universe, He did not plan to create animals, not even the mighty angels. Instead, He decided that He would design the Wonder of wonders – Salvation.
The Cross is the ultimate manifestation of Love. That is where God decided that His Crown would be of thorns and that He would be nailed to His Throne. Even though His Might is declared throughout creation, and the heavens declare His Glory, I submit to you: There is more power revealed in the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit in one man, than all the power revealed in the 6 days of creation.
In the parable of the four soils (Mark 4:1-20), the process of regeneration (of being born again) is revealed by our Lord. To enter the Kingdom, and understand its culture and language, one must be born again. “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” I will not attempt and explain how to be born again, because it is not a human process, it is a supernatural work of God. But I will tell you this, Nicodemus was right. You must go back to your mother’s womb (Galatians 4:23) whoso readeth, let him understand.
Breaking away from explaining regeneration, let us concentrate on the “fruit of those who are born again” that Christ describes in the parable. He sets out a principle of the Kingdom: Readiness of Heart. God never demanded worship; He said He wanted worshippers, who worship in Spirit and in Truth. Jesus Christ teaches us that our Father wants hearts that are ready to serve, ready to listen, and ready to obey in Love.
Readiness of Heart is about giving up our vanity, pride and desires. It is about emptying ourselves of ourselves, so that we can be filled with the only valuable thing in Eternity – Christ.
Readiness of Heart is the first principle applicable to living in the Kingdom. God’s Kingdom is the source of everything. God’s Kingdom is an expression of a person: Jesus Christ. To Live in Him, we must be ready to Love His desires.
“If any man come to me, and hate not his own life, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple“. (Luke 14:26,27 Paraphrased)
