“Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain….They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.”
Mark 4:7, 18-19
January 18, 2024
The condition of the soil of the heart determines whether the seed of the word will flourish or not. There are those who hear but they bear no fruit. Obviously, this is not a good outcome. This can happen to a Christian or a non-Christian. That which one truly loves asserts its power. Tough, thistle bearing weeds use up the available space, light, and water which plants need. Have you seen believers who get knocked out of their growth lane by choosing to chase material things and pursue self-satisfaction? A career, family, job, financial security, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and personal happiness take the place of what the King desires for His subjects. Is your heart thorn-infested with pleasure seeking? How sad is the story of what might have been when spiritual apathy suffocates the seed of the King’s word.
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“O Lord, I shutter to think of what my heart can become capable of; the allurements of the big screen TV, travel to exotic places, fun with my pets, and a car with all the latest gadgets could steal my heart away from you.”