“Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 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 4:16-20
Have you ever walked in the tall, weedy area surrounding a lake and found that when you got back to your truck or house, your jeans and socks were filled with sandburs? You can’t just shake them out. One by one, you have to painfully pluck the thorns out. Thorns are found everywhere in this fallen world of ours. There are a plethora of prickly issues surrounding us that steal our joy, confidence, and may shake our faith in Jesus.
The thorns in our fallen world are gang leaders, deceitful politicians and the ‘bad shepherds’ in our media. They know nothing of peaceful coexistence with the life of God’s children. They keep annoying us. They sow seeds of disturbance, deception and discontentment. They put themselves on a pedestal of self-made glory. They are thorns.
The thorns of this fallen world have a way pricking into your skin and causing you to get used to them. It can be painless after a while. We need to pluck them out, one by one. Pulling them out may draw a few drops of blood and even leave a scar. A scar left on your body, in your memory or in your wallet. Pull them out; one by one. Replace the scar with a closer walk with Jesus. I've got a few ugly scars to prove it. Each one is a mute reminder of the years I let them cling to my jeans, socks and life. They can come back. Pull them out. Walk closer with our Savior.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay