This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, by continuing to walk through the parable of the sower. Jesus said:
“The farmer is like someone who plants God’s teaching in people. Sometimes the teaching falls on the path. That is like some people who hear the teaching of God. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.
Other people are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching, and they quickly and gladly accept it. But they don’t allow it to go deep into their lives. They keep it only a short time. As soon as trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they give up.
Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching, but their lives become full of other things: the worries of this life, the love of money, and everything else they want. This keeps the teaching from growing, and it does not produce a crop in their lives.
And others are like the seed planted on the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce a good crop—sometimes 30 times more, sometimes 60 times more, and sometimes 100 times more.” (Mark 4:13-20 ERV)
We have been walking our way through this passage for weeks. So far we have covered the first two types of soil. This morning we begin to look at the third: thorny weeds. Jesus likened this type of ground to believers who, “hear the teaching, but their lives become full of other things: the worries of this life, the love of money, and everything else they want. This keeps the teaching from growing, and it does not produce a crop in their lives.” This type of person is a perfect example of why a series like this is so important. God wants your focus. Why? Because He wants to use you and it becomes hard for Him to do so when you are distracted. Over the next few days we will seek to apply what Jesus said about this type of soil to our lives.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- The key to being used of God is simply living in-synch with Him. For God to supernaturally operate in your life He just needs you to cooperate with Him.
- God has boundless power and unsearchable wisdom. There are no limits in God. Our limitless God wants to work through you to do things you could never accomplish on your own. However, you hinder God from moving through you when you fail to yield to Him.
- The key to being used of God is getting out of the way. The less flesh (or carnality) you have in the way, the more God can speak through your vocal chords, think through your mind and operate through your limbs.
- God will not compete with you. If you want to run your own life, make your own decisions, and pursue your own idea of success with your own strength, He will stand by and wait ‘till you get tired. When you are tired of living life with human ability alone, He will be ready to step in, but He will only do so at your invitation. If you want to be the lord of your own life, God will let you. But when you are ready to make Him Lord, He will use you.
- The person Jesus describes as thorny ground cannot be used of God because he/she is focused on other things. This person allows the cares of this world, the love of money, and personal pursuits to trump God’s agenda and purpose. As a result, they live their own lives. Even when they do receive a Word of God, the seed of the Word cannot produce a harvest because the seed is competing with far too many weeds. Don’t let this be you. Make Jesus Your Lord. Give Him first place. Rid yourself of all distractions. Prioritize God and His Word over everything else. This way God’s Word will produce a harvest in your life and you will become the man/woman God called you to be.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016 by giving You priority over everything else in my life. Making You my Lord means You are Lord of all. I don’t have anything in my life that is more important than You. I prioritize You over my marriage, my children, my career, and my desires. I see to it that You don’t have to compete with any other priorities in my life. I also see to it that the seed of Your Word does not have to compete with selfish weeds. I want Your Word to produce a harvest in me, so I clear my mind, I give You my focus, I make You my Lord, I submit to You in all my ways, I meditate and medicate Your Word day and night, and I give myself over to You daily, to be used of You for Your glory. Living this way I become a yielded vessel in the hands of my mighty God. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
