KEEP WEEDING
Luke 8:7
"Some other seeds fell where thorn bushes grew up and choked the plants"
A few days ago I had my friend Gary here helping me put in some foodplots for this fall's hunting season. We were driving back and forth to one big plot one day and I noticed that the corn was about 2 ft high in the farmer's field. There were also weeds growing almost as high as the corn. It looked to me like that corn crop didn't stand a chance, it was about to be chocked out by the weeds. A couple of days later I drove across the same field and all of the weeds were lying on the ground. Evidently the farmer had been out and sprayed the weeds to kill them and release the corn to grow and produce a crop.
In Jesus time there was no herbicide to spray on the crops to protect them from the choking effects of the weeds. Many soils with weeds in it is actually were planted with a crop that begins to grow. But as it grows, the weeds grow up around it, and the weeds begin to choke out the life of the vegetable or the plant, so it never bears fruit.
Here's what Jesus says is the meaning of the verse above... In Luke 8:14 : "The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature".
We need to be careful not to allow the weeds of this world to grow up and choke out our growing relationship with the Lord. Our world can be so loud in our ears and in our minds that it sows seeds of weeds into our crops. If we don't guard our heart against the weeds sown by Satan that can choke out any possible growth we will never grow into what God has for us and we will never produce fruit for Him.
While there are many things that can choke out our production of fruit, the three that are mentioned in Luke 8:14 stand out...
1 – WORRY, when we allow the weeds of worry to overtake our growth. Worry is one of the worst things to take over our relationship with the Lord. It is so loud in our heart and mind that it will eliminate the growth of anything good. God makes it clear that worry has no place in the life of a believer.
2 – RICHES / FINANCIAL SUCCESS, many of us In our young adult life feel like we have to work as hard as possible to make a future life for ourselves. As we get used to making a little money, we feel like we have to work harder to keep up the life we had built. When we work that hard to be successful, we cannot hear what the Lord is calling us to... and the weeds grow up and choke out our growth.
3 – PERSONAL PLEASURE, There's nothing wrong with enjoyment and pleasure, however we need to careful that we don't become so obsessed with pursuing pleasure and fun that we miss God's plans for your life. The pursuit of worldly pleasure will certainly encourage the weeds that will stifle any growth and fruit production.
In order to keep weeds from growing in our lives we must be constantly on the lookout for sprouts showing up. If we notice any weed growth starting in our life, we must eliminate it immediately.
If you fail to sow godly thoughts in your mind, the weeds of evil thoughts will take root there and eventually they will take up all the space and not allow godly thoughts to flourish. KEEP WEEDING.
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