Many of you may already know Luke 8:14, it is the passage about the seed trying to grow among the thorny brush. The verses in front of it explain the whole parable:
5. “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” 9. His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,” though seeing, they may not see;though hearing, they may not understand.” 11. “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 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. 15. 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.
Well I have thought about the entire parable from time to time and have decided that I am more like the seed that fell among the thorns. However I don’t think that I have actually been choked out, more like the seed that fell among the thorns and is reaching as hard as she can for the good soil. Like it is right there just out of my reach. I think that most of us are like that. Life has a way of choking out the goodness, the faith, and the hope that thrives within in when we are little (seeds.) As we mature and attempt to take root sometimes our roots just won’t take hold but not because we aren’t trying as hard as we can. IT is just that the ground we find ourselves in doesn’t provide us the nutrients,sun, and other things that we need. All we can do is keep reaching as hard as we can for the good soil.
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
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I understand your post completely. Sometimes for me, its a struggle to keep my eyes solely on God and not allow the things of the world make me worldly or lose the fruits of the Spirit in my life. Everyday, its only God’s grace that keeps me to grow from glory to glory to be close to God and in His likeness everyday.
I strive for that everyday as well and I am glad that I am able to realize that I am the thorny brush sometimes.
I have always loved this parable it is a great reminder for me to try and stay grounded in the Word and not let life’s worry choke you out.
I have used this parable many times in my life, teaching it to my children and my nephews, it’s a great way to explain life within Christ
that is a good way to look at it. i think we all strive for something good and sometimes it can be hard and perseverance will get us there.