ICS Daily Devotions
Avoid the Thorns
Mark 4:7,18-19 (NKJV) And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop… Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
One of the many referrals to thorns in the Bible is people. The thorns are referring to people who influence our lives. The thorns will always grow faster than the seed. It is easier to learn about wickedness and bad behavior than to change for good. The Bible says, the thorns grew up among the seed and choked the growth of the seed and the seed yielded no crops.
Not everyone whom we mix with is a positive voice of influence in our lives because they may not hold the same values and principles as us. These are those who value their investment, work, status, possessions and everything in this world more important than God, relationship with our family members and Church. We are a product of what we think, therefore whoever influences our thinking will be a louder voice in our lives.
Proverbs 22:5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guard his soul will be far from them.
Thorns and snares are a very real part of wicked people’s lives, and in regard to them, it would be wise for us to guard our souls and be far from them. Whatever are the thorns and snares to you in the lives of others, they are something that you need to stay far from.
If we are going to progress and move forward into deeper and richer truth, there will be thorns in our lives that will need to be driven out. If they are allowed to remain, they will be irritants to our eyes and thorns to our sides and we will be hindered from growing in the deepness and richness of Christ.
We need to ensure that cares or worries of this life, deceitfulness of riches, and the desires of other things do not choke the word! There are things that we might not even consider to be thorns but rather just life. Jesus, however, sees them as thorns that will choke our spiritual development. The basic worries of life, the deceitfulness of this world’s wealth, and the lust that we have for the things of the world are things that Jesus says are thorns, and thorns have the ability to choke the Word from our lives and therefore destroy our spiritual growth.
Matthew 6:31-32 (NKJV) Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear? For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
Phil 4:19 (NKJV) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Before we even think of our needs, God has already made the provision for us! He is our Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides! In Him, we have no lack! Jesus wants us to cast our cares upon Him for He cares for us! (1Pet 5:7). Trust the Lord and do not let the word to fall among the thorns.
Sermon series: There is power in the seed
