"But he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the Word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word, and he becomes unfruitful." (Matthew 13:22)
Mark's Gospel adds, "and the lust of other things." What seemed to jump out at me today is that in such a case, "....he becomes unfruitful." The Word is always "fruitful." Could it be that something in my relationship in the very, "Word of God," Jesus Himself, has suffered loss?
I may preach, teach, write, "....the Word..," yet I can still be, "unfruitful." People can attract millions of followers, write number-one-best-sellers, and appear to be "successful." In their personal lives, however, there is, "....he is unfruitful." The outward man seems to be fruitful, but the personal life is a shambles.
There is an unfruitfulness in the life of those who are overcome by, "the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things." Perhaps it is the unfruitfulness of loneliness, a sense of, "I do not sense His presence." Whatever, this, "....he (himself) becomes unfruitful," should press us in to, "the fear of the Lord," more than ever.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that there have been times when I seemed outwardly fruitful, but inwardly was not. Thank You for Your Word of warning and exhortation. Amen.
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CROW MISSION: AUGUST 2-13
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
