Vol. 17 No. 35 | August 31, 2015
Near the end of the story of the Sower (Matthew 7; Mark 4; Luke 8) Jesus makes this statement in verse 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.” (Luke 8:1-15, NIV)
Those words surfaced in my memory recently when I was on a late afternoon walk along the Greenway in what was once a golf course. It’s the same golf course I’ve written about before. (See: It Doesn’t Take Long and Caring For Your Soul) It was a beautiful afternoon as I enjoyed the walk with a nice breeze, the setting sun and listening to a favorite music playlist when I realized I was consumed by weeds. When I say weeds I actually mean thistles (see: Thistles).
When I say overcome by weeds I actually mean engulfed by thistles. They have grown tall, almost as tall as me, and have almost completely covered the golf course. As I began to take in the view along the paved path I realized that at eye level and in certain directions all I could see was tall prickly weeds.
That’s when I thought of the words of Jesus, “…they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.” Those who heard the word were choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
“I know those people,” I thought. Then, I thought at times I am one of those people. I am one of hear the Word. It makes sense. It is planted into my heart. It begins to grow. Then, the weeds appear. They grow. They grow strong and tall and block my vision of the things that are real and true and clear gets choked out by life’s worries, riches, pleasures and they do not mature. I have been there. Maybe you have too. Maybe you are there now. You are consumed by weeds.
I looked up. Above the weeds. Above the thistles. Further up the path. At the top of the hill. There was a grove of trees. Strong healthy trees. Green lush trees. The weeds had no affect on these trees. They stood firm as if to say, “You can do this. You and survive this. The Word can and will thrive in you.”
It was at that moment when I was consumed by the weeds that I realized it was not the trees speaking to me, but the Lord, and I remembered the next verse in Luke 8: “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” Consumed by weeds but refreshed by the Word.
Are you consumed by the weeds of life. Look up. Find a tree. Study it. Hear the Lord as He speaks to you and raises you above the weeds.
Tom
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2015. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.