A LAMP ON A STAND

Passage: Mark 4:21-25

Key verse: 21

NIV

A Lamp on a Stand

21 He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?(A) 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.(B) 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”(C)

24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.(D) 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”(E)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

A Lamp Under a Basket

21 (A)And he said to them, (B)“Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 22 (C)For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. 23 (D)If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: (E)with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. 25 (F)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.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Put the lamp on its stand (21-23)

A lamp is lighted and put on a stand in order to drive away darkness and expose everything in the room. One who does not want to repent might want to hide the lamp under the bed. Jesus is the true light who came into the world (Jn 1:9). He came to give the light of life to all who follow him (Jn 8:12). He will come again to expose all things and judge the earth (1Th 5:2-5).

2. Consider what you hear (24-25)

God's word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path (Ps 119:1

5). We must listen carefully to God's word with an inner heart decision to obey him. When we accept God's word, repent, and obey him, then our understanding grows, our love for God grows, and our faith grows. If we fail to exercise faith and love, even what we have will be taken away.

Prayer: Lord, let the light of Jesus shine into my dark heart today and every day. Help me to grow in faith and live for you. Help me to follow Jesus, the light of life.

One Word: Live in the light of Jesus