What actions can we take to avoid rejecting God's messages? Understanding Mark 12:2 “ At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard.” — Mark 12:2 Why Messages Get Rejected • Pride that refuses oversight (Isaiah 30:10–11) • Comfort with the status quo (Jeremiah 6:14) • Fear of losing control (John 11:48) • Sin that dulls hearing (Hebrews 3:13) Heart Attitudes That Welcome God’s Word • Humility: “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at My word.” — Isaiah 66:2 • Teachability: “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” — 1 Samuel 3:10 • Reverence for Scripture’s authority (2 Timothy 3:16) • Eagerness to obey, not just hear (James 1:22) Actions to Keep from Rejecting God’s Messages 1. Search the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11) 2. Pray for a soft heart (Ezekiel 36:26) 3. Test every message by the Word, not by preference (1 John 4:1) 4. Repent quickly when convicted (Psalm 51:17) 5. Practice immediate obedience in small matters (Luke 16:10) 6. Stay in close fellowship with mature believers who will speak truth (Hebrews 10:24–25) Living It Out This Week • Set aside one uninterrupted time slot to read Mark 12 and note any warnings you sense. • Memorize Hebrews 3:15: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” • Identify one area where you have resisted godly counsel; take one concrete step of obedience. • Share with a trusted friend what God is showing you, inviting accountability. A Closing Reminder The Owner still sends His servants, and ultimately His Son. Receiving them is more than polite listening—it is bearing the “fruit of the vineyard” He rightfully expects. |
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