Text - Mark 4:1-20
And some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. Mark 4:7 NKJV
This parable is quite popular I suppose. And I have read it as many times or probably even more times than I have read the book of Mark. But something in the story hit me yesterday. It was like a lightning bolt because I was in no way thinking about this Scripture. I cannot for the life of me even remember what I was whining to the Holy Spirit about when this parable came to mind.
Jesus teaching as in His usual fashion dropped a simple story that was in no way simple, except probably by appearance. He said the Kingdom of God was like a sower who went to sow and scattered seeds (this is gist for another day, but if you desire to pry, it gives room for talk on predestination). Now the said farmer set these seeds and some fell by the wayside, others on shallow soil, others among thorns and yet others on good and fertile soil.
In many ways, we focus on the first group of seed (the ones that fell by the wayside and plucked by the devil haqhaqhaq - insert maniacal laughter) and the guys who landed on the good soil (insert hymn and celestial melody). What the Holy Spirit brought my attention to however was the guys among thorns! I never gave them a second glance other than a little eyya before.
Guys, it means that one can have God's Word, grow and be unfruitful. A major travesty in the economy of God's kingdom.
I know we don't want to hear it, but our job description is to make disciples of ALL nations. Our Modus Operandi is by letting our Light so shine before men. Not hiding, not dimming, not shading! Shining.
I can not begin to explain the immense importance of this. Especially if you read the whole parable and Yeshua's further explanation of it. It is possible to grow among thorns, grow with them(albeit sickly), and grow up to maturity. The dividing line is that you will not bear fruit/multiply. And I think that Jesus went 10 steps further to describe what these thorns are.
So I know life gets tough and very demanding but my question is You choke? Abi you dey breathe?