Truth in Thorns

Luke 8:7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.

In Luke 8, Jesus gives us a parable about the seed and the sower. In it, He told us very clearly that the world and it’s cares will make all attempts to stop our Divine Purpose. The thorns that sprang up were explained in verse 14 – Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

Many spend much time praying about purpose. Yet, the very things blocking that purpose are not addressed. The price is too high. The cost is too great. There’s pain in following passion. Fears and doubts assail.

God does not till the soil in our gardens… we do. God does not control the thorns… we do.

We either water the seeds or we water the weeds. Water takes the form of focus. We focus money, talents, time, and love through acts of choice. Like plants, that which receives more focus grows in our lives more. That which receives less focus grows less. We control the focus.

How brilliant that Jesus used thorns in the parable – sharp, painful to pull, hard to get rid of, will draw blood when mishandled, will grow out of control when left unchecked. The longer left unaddressed… the more difficult to bring under control. How wonderfully appropriate.

We pray that God will solve our issues, open our doors. When the issues remain and the doors stay closed, we cry out in frustration, griping, grumbling. We blame people. We blame circumstances. We blame God. Surely, the blame cannot rest in our own failure to address the thorns we see growing in our gardens. Surely, the fault cannot be mine.

The question is: are we tending our garden? Are we tearing up the weeds and watering the seeds? Are we braving the thorns and tearing them out by the roots, risking loss of blood and enduring pain in the process? Or are we sitting on the wall and asking God to do it all?

Philippians 4:13 says – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Notice the verse starts with “I” and ends with “me”. There is personal price in following purpose. Many read this verse as – Christ, You do it all and I’ll watch. That’s not what it says though.

Make no mistake and understand: There is a price in purpose… a cost in calling… a pain in passion. If we want the promise, we must engage the process.

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