LEARNING DAILY

 

Mark 4:7, “And some seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.”  Jesus

 

This is a verse from the parable of the sower.  This parable is about one who is spreading seed which falls on different types of soil.  Some time ago I read a devotional written by David Wilkerson that dealt with the thorns in the soil.  I am going to use much of what he wrote for this page of the blog because it just seems to fit today’s situation with too many who call themselves Christian. 

 

He correctly wrote that the soil with the thorns was defined by Jesus as the “care of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, the lusts of other things entering into the heart”. When Jesus explained the parable to His disciples, He said, “these things enter in and choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful’.  Wilkerson wrote that the greatest need in the church today is to be fully satisfied with Christ.  But, “He is being dethroned by what the Lord calls the thorns.” 

 

He continues in the devotion by asking each reader to consider whether the Lord is more on your mind than a year ago.  Do you spend more time in His presence than a year ago?  Is your passion for Him growing or withering?  The problem is the enemy’s hope to get you burdened with the stresses of life, with all sorts of problems, and tempts you to chase the riches and things of the world.  If he can do that, you begin spending less and less time with the Lord and become lukewarm or cold in your pursuit of Jesus.

 

Wilkerson adds John 15:6 to further explain the result of the thorns.  “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”  The person who does not draw life from the true vine is drying up from lack of nourishment.  He is deceived into believing all is well because he speaks “christianese” very well. 

 

Jesus warned the church of Ephesus that they worked hard for Him and could not bear evil, but they had left their first love – Him.  They had become lax and then cold in their walk with Him.  He told them that they needed to repent and draw close to Him – like when they first got saved. 

 

Let me close today with what David Wilkerson wrote in His devotional.  “I hear the Holy Spirit calling the Lord’s people back to their first love.  Back to hungering and thirsting for more of Christ (that’s my daily prayer for each of you!).  back to spending quality time in His presence.  Back to loving His Word.  Back to casting all cares upon Him.  Back to depending on Him for guidance.  Christ desires intimacy with His bride (the true Church!).  He yearns after His beloved to return to Him with love and obedience.  I humbly submit to you, trusting the Holy Spirit will stir your heart and draw you closer to Himself.”

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