Beware the Thorns! (2/2)

 

 Beware the Thorns! (2 of 2)

"Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants." ~Matthew 13:7

We need to reflect on this passage a little more. In the first post we put our focus on the thorns. The modern-day thorns of work, schedules, social media, and other diversions that clamor for our attention, divide our hearts, and choke out the seeds of God's Word in our lives. Despite the fact that those words were extremely convicting, Scripture does give us encouragement. 

Today, we are going to put our focus on the seed of God's Word. 

Isaiah 55:6-11

"Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways 
and the unrighteous their thoughts. 
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, 
and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 
'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 
neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD.
'As the heavens are higher than the earth, 
so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, 
and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, 
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 
so is my word that goes out from my mouth: 
It will not return to me empty, 
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.'"

It can be some comfort to know that while I have allowed the thorns to grow in my own life, God's Word will still accomplish its purpose: "It will not return to me empty..." The one who misses out here? Me! 

I have missed the blessing of sharing God's Word. 

I have missed the blessing of a fruitful life. 

I have missed it. 

This particular opportunity is over, and thankfully, God will accomplish his purpose through someone else while I watch just one more TikTok, binge five more episodes on Netflix, or scroll through the new posts on social media. I allowed the thorns to choke this opportunity.

Jesus' teaching with the parable didn't end with the tragic story of those of us who allow the seeds to be choked with our modern-day thorns. Jesus went on to share that another option is possible; the people who allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives in order to produce fruitful lives. 

"Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown." ~Mark 4:20

Let us learn our lesson and be vigilant against the "busy" thorns in our lives that create barriers that keep us from a fruitful life filled with the blessing of sharing God's beautiful promises. 

Prayer: 

Almighty God, we thank You for the opportunity to share Your Word. Forgive us, Lord, for giving our precious time and attention to various thorns. Guide us away from thorns in our lives that choke out Your Word. Help us recognize these thorns and weed them out of our lives. In Jesus' Name. Amen