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)
Today I am going to focus in on the line, “the worries of this life.” Other translations read, “the cares of this world.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. You are called to live from heaven’s perspective.
a) The Bible teaches us NOT to live from a human point of view.
b) When you are living from God’s point of view, your life will not be full of the cares of this world.
2. If you live your life full of worry, there is no difference between you and the world.
a) Jesus said, “Don’t worry about the things you need to live—what you will eat, drink, or wear. Life is more important than food, and the body is more important than what you put on it… You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it… Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ That’s what those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow.” (see Matthew 6:25-33)
b) You cannot worry and trust God at the same time. If you worry and take on care, it will choke-out the Word and keep it from working in your life.
3. You were designed to cast-care, not carry it.
a) The Apostle Peter said, “Cast all your care upon Him [God], because He cares for you!” (1 Peter 5:7). Other translations replace “care” with “anxiety” or “worry”. Peter’s point is that you should not take on care, because the Father, the Lord Himself, has chosen to take on the care for your life. If God has the care for your life and your future, then why attempt to carry around any care? Don’t carry care, cast it over to God who is doing the caring for you!
b) God can handle care, you cannot. You were not designed to take on the pressure to perform. God does not call you to things you can do on your own. So if you start taking on the pressure to perform, you will be so stressed — by the size of God’s assignment and the pressure to get it done — that God’s Word will not work in your life. Care, worry and stress can choke-out the Word.
c) If you are going to work, then God is going to rest. But when you learn to enter into God’s rest, He will do the work. When you rest in the finished works of Jesus in your life, you will enjoy the grace of God. You will see God do things FOR you that you could never do on your own.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016 by taking heed to your Word. I don’t allow the cares of this world to choke-out the power of the Word. I take no thought for tomorrow. I refuse to take on any care. I don’t take on any pressure to perform. If You called me to do it, then I know You have already given me the grace to get it done, You have already stored up the resources for it, You have already prepared the people I will need and You will bring us together at just the right time. So my eyes are on You. My trust is in You. I have no cares. I have no worry. I take on no anxiety. And if a care somehow makes it’s way into my heart, I am quick to CAST that care over to You, because You have taken on the responsibility to care for me! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
