A Thorny Question

Ok, now we come to the single most motivating section of scripture for me. Luke Chapter 8. (Go read it right now if you don't know it) This section of scripture is the motivation for the address of my page here. Overcoming the thorns. It's perhaps the single most important concept in the life of a Christian who wants to truly and obediently serve Jesus.

In this chapter Jesus tells the parable of the sower and the seeds. I'm sure you're familiar with it. The seeds fall on the path and are eaten by the birds and so on and so forth. We find our way to the section where the seeds fall upon the thorny ground. According to verse 14, "Now the ones that fell among the thorns are those who, when they heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity." Sound like anyone you know?

I believe most people miss the primary message in the parable of the sower and the seeds. The seeds that fall on the good soil reproduce 100 fold. Most Christians these days are lucky if they ever reproduce the spiritual state that exists in them even ONE time. We live our lives without concern for the impact of our inaction on thse around us. We deny them an opportunity to know Christ if we fail to disseminate our seed to them. In this sense, most Christians actually display the characteristics of the thorny ground from the parable.

This is what I see when I consider most Christians I know, myself included. That must mean we have allowed ourselves to be thorny ground for God's message, while we still consider ourselves to the the good soil. We have perverted the message of the Lord to put the onus on the unbeliever, judging them for not being the good soil they "should" be if they wish to be saved. They are currently barren earth, taking no seed and bearing no fruit. Yet WE have taken in the seed of God's message, and what fruit to we have to show for it? Are we actually good soil? Or are we allowing the thorns of life (both pleasures and pains) to deter us from sharing our message out to others and proving we are not capable of bringing fruit to maturity and reproducing as we should?

Hearts that are prepared to receive the message of God will become overwhelmingly fruitful (100 fold v8). There is a measure of patience required to see such fruit, but the message burns in the heart of the prepared like a lamp, glowing for all to see. We are called to place such a lamp upon a pedestal where it will shine and bring illumination to all around it. Luke implies that hiding such light could result in it's loss, and maybe even more besides according to v18.

Most Christians today live life in a fog of concerns and pleasures having everything to do with the world around us, and little to do with how God would rather have us spending our time. Luke 8 is a warning of how, in time, this practice can eventually bring us harm. The power of the Holy Spirit was given to the people of God to ensure the success and boldness of the efforts we put forth on His behalf. When was the last time you called upon His help? When was the last time you took the time to share about Him with anyone? When was the last time you even gave it a second thought? Ask yourself...are you really good soil? Or are you struggling to overcome the thorns yourself?