THE GOOD SOIL
Luke 8
“Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”
I love these women and the many others barely mentioned in the bible. I don’t get the impression that Jesus asked them for support; they are just practical people who saw what was needed and did the necessary because they are grateful, because they believe in the worth of Jesus’ ministry and because they know that people still need to eat, clothes need to be washed and they need a place to sleep.
There is a naturalness about their faith and their actions just followed. I can see them fussing around Jesus yet never kicking up a fuss.
Light must be allowed to shine. The goodness in our heart must be allowed to flow and be expressed. If we hoard the light and do not let it out then surely at some point the flame will die.
But not all light shines in the open. Jesus spoke of light shining in a room where people who come in will see the light. Jesus taught that “there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” God sees your light quietly shining in a small corner and sends people your way who are in need of light.
The crop that the good soil produces need not be impressive; I believe that our heavenly Father sees even in secret.
When Jesus responded saying “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice” we should not take him literally. He is merely saying that these people (who otherwise are unimpressive and have no claim on him) deserve and will receive his attention as indeed his own family members should. Once again Jesus emphasises the importance of assimilating God’s truth into our lives.
And so we should not be concerned so much as to our own importance and impact. There is a place for the “specially called” like the disciples, but there is also a place by Jesus’ side for the anonymous women.
Jesus spoke of those who gave water to the thirsty, fed the hungry, clothed the poor and brought welcome to those left alone; no one knew but Jesus did. When we open our hearts and respond to the people that cross our path we have listened and practised.
If instead our hearts are closed then what is inside will wither and die. A flame is not to be hidden in a clay jar.
“Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”