Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Parable: Seed among thorns!

Matthew 13v7 “Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.”

What is competing with God’s Word in your life?

Today we consider the third part of the parable of the farmer sowing his seed. The whole text relating to this part is:

“ ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.… ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.”

Jesus is saying it is possible for me to make a positive response to the gospel, but for it then to be crowded out by other things. That means that there is never much fruit. What is the point of an apple tree with no apples, or a tomato plant with no tomatoes?  Jesus has called us to bear fruit.

Thorns can be quite pretty – I think of the flower on a Scottish thistle. They can also grow their own kind of fruit – I think of blackberries growing on thorn bushes. So, the things of this life and the idea of wealth can look attractive and productive. But these are not going to help us in spiritual growth, and it is only by spiritual growth that we are going to produce the fruit that God has appointed us for.

What needs cutting back in my life to allow God’s fruit to grow? Maybe there are even things that need uprooting, to allow the Word of God to grow in us without competition.

Lord, help us to identify the things which are actually causing us spiritual harm. Give us the wisdom, courage and power to get rid of them, and may our lives be productive for you.

With love and blessing,

Roland