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Commentaries
English
Mark
  
d) The Principles of Discipleship
(Mark 4:21-25)
21He 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?22For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”24“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you – and even more.25Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”


If you heard the word of Christ, understood it, believed in it, then carry it out for the sake of grace, and communicate it to the others, for if your faith is living, you will not be able to hide it. The love of God has put a heavenly light in your heart. As Christ is the light of the world, so he makes you a light for your surroundings overcoming the darkness. Do you fear men, sufferings, death, or demons? God is with you, and his Son dwells in you, so do not fear anything, but believe, and bear witness to the Savior who created in you joy, wisdom, and humility.
As faith is not hidden or concealed in man at all times, so sin appears in all those who do not believe in Christ. Bad words come out of the sinner, even if he shut his mouth for some time. However, at an unexpected moment, the evil spirit appears out of his unclean heart, in an unclean, hateful word. Thus, your words judge you.
He, who is filled with the Holy Spirit overflows with love, purity, and truth. You cannot humor the children of the world at all times, as if you were not born again. You have either to lose God’s guarantee in you, or to testify Christ’s salvation among your friends without equivocation.
Your faith is not a memorized doctrine, but a hard service in Christ’s fellowship. He who is lazy, or coward, dies spiritually, but he who hears his Master’s word everyday, and applies it during the day, grows up in the life of the Holy Spirit, and abstains from all bad association. He flees from stupid jokes, and closes his eyes against pornography. So, concentrate on Christ and he will enrich you of his goodness throughout your life.
Did you understand the mystery of this main principle in Psychology: “Whatever comes in goes out”? If you heard the word of God, you would speak it; if you heard politics, you would speak it; and if you listened to unclean reports, you would certainly become unclean. So, fill your heart with the gospel that you may become the walking word of God, which is read by all men.
Jesus called men a perverse and adulterous generation, for the majority live without God, or exploit him just as an adornment for their life. Jesus knew the unclean spirit who works in all men. Every one is selfish in nature. No one is good but God. But beware! Do not despise anyone because of your knowledge of his evil. Recognize the love of God revealed in Christ who gave his life for this perverse and adulterous generation though they fought him intently. God loves the wicked. He does not condemn them or consume them immediately, but saves whoever accepts salvation. How much more will he save us, who in nature are not better than all men. So let us not condemn or refuse anyone, but love him, testify salvation before him and pray for him.
He who communicates Christ’s testimony to others becomes spiritually increased in the service of God. He receives new urges, spiritual powers, heavenly blessings, everlasting pleasure, and divine love. He who is rich in the Spirit becomes increasingly richer, but he who is stingy in testimony, and lazy in hand service loses his situation. So speak! Do not shut up, for God is with you. He is your shield and your reward.

Prayer
O Father, we thank you because you called us to everlasting life. Forgive us our weakness, fear, and stupidity, and lead us to penetrate deeply into your gospel that we may be filled with joy and courage, and tell our friends of your virtues. Keep us from bad spirits that we may continue in the service of your love at all times. Amen.
Question
Why can faith not be hidden at all times?