Choking out the Word

This scripture has spoken to me lately.  Mark 4:19 "...but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful."  This scripture is placed in the middle of a parable/story told by Jesus.  He speaks  of a farmer who sows the word - the word being the gospel. To some people who hear the word of God, it is like seeds tossed along the hardened pathway, where the word doesn't take any root. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.  Others, the word is like seed sown on rocky places, they hear the word and at once receive it with joy.  But since they have no root, their love for it only last a short time. When trouble or persecution comes, they quickly fall away.  There are others when they hear it the word is like seed sown among thorns, they hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.  Then there are the fortunate ones, who like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown. We can all read this parable found in the book of Mark and hope the seed (God's word) is placed in good soil (our receptive hearts).  I pray we all desire to produce a life that is pleasing to our Heavenly Father.  When I look at myself, I know Satan can't steal my love for Jesus - no hardened pathway here, nor has my love for Him only lasted for a season- I'm not playing in the rocky places, however when I look at the seed sown among the thorns, it is here I get convicted and pierced by the prickly thorns.

 There are many things that can choke out the word of God.  Worries are a biggie for most!  How can a worry choke out the word of God?  Worry can take over our minds and allow no room for reassuring thoughts from our Savior.  Worry can deny the very promises of God.  How many times do we waste energy, thoughts, days, weeks, months worrying and not placing our trust in Christ?  The hearer who is among the thorns attends the preaching of the Word of God on a fairly regular basis.  They listen to the word of God, however they allow the cares of life to burden them.  They look to success and things of this world to make them happy.  They fail to recognize the greatest happiness and joy are found in Christ and the spiritual relationship you can have with Him.  Their relationship with Christ becomes one of doubt and fear rather than comfort and peace.  They become fretful and complaining.  Ugh!  I do not want to be this person.  We must not allow this to happen in our walk with Christ.  We must pray, trust in the Lord and ask Him for good spiritual things that will satisfy our souls.  We must pray to to be holy and useful in service to Christ.  We must abide in Christ by learning to become a studier and doer of the word - rather than just a hearer. 

Are we allowing the cares of this world, which are thorns and briers to our faith to take over our hearts?  How do we stop this from happening.  The book of Psalm offers great insight - "Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness." "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.""Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." "He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday." "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass." "Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret--it only causes harm." This is the answer - Don't allow the thorns and snares of this world to deny you the sweet life with Christ.  Constantly drink in the word of God - abide in Christ.

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