Mar 4:7  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

Mar 4:18  And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

Mar 4:19  And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Mat 13:7  Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

Mat 13:22  As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Luk 8:7  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it.

Luk 8:14  And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

It has taken me awhile to come back to finishing up this parable of the Sower. I want the Lord’s timing and His words to be typed out, not mine. As I pondered on these scriptures the last few weeks, I couldn’t get myself to sit and type out the words. It wasn’t until I was out checking the bees and turned around to place the lid on the fence that I saw thorns growing all over the fence. I smiled and observed them, asking the Holy Spirit to teach me. I took photos like I always do when visuals are on display. That evening, I typed out just the scriptures from the synoptic gospels. The word that stood out to me was mature.

When one receives the free gift of salvation through hearing the Word and believing that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, what happens next? The seeds have been thrown, and they have taken root in good soil; however, as the seed matures, what is growing next to it or with it? So many times I have seen in my own life and in other believers’ lives, the hinderances that have stunted growth! After God has delivered me from the things that were choking me and keeping me from growing in Him, it has been my passion to see and encourage others to do the same. That we be ever vigilant to see what is causing barrenness in our spiritual walk. What things of the world, whether it be riches, lusts, or pleasures, are taking place of us focusing on the Lord to mature us and bare much fruit for Him?

We must be aware of these things in our own personal walk with the Lord before we can warn our children of the potential snares that thorns can cause in their walk. Yes, they are snares!! The thorns of life, which are defined in the parable, ensnare us by their tempting lure and before we know it, has taken up so much space that it chokes out any growth that has taken place. What gives even more alarm and should help us in understanding the danger of allowing cares of the world and pleasures of the flesh, is that in Proverbs 22:5, it explains that thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked! 

Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them. -Proverbs 22:5

In Romans 8:8, it says things of flesh cannot please God! In James, he exhorts us to put away all filthiness and wickedness and receive with humility the implanted word.

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. -James 1:21-22

The word implanted in Greek means engrafted or implanted by nature or by another’s instruction. The Greek meaning behind the word save in this scripture means to keep safe, deliver, or protect. James exclaims that we must take in the Word and also apply it, because when we do not we are deceiving ourselves. If we are just heaters and doers of the Word we are not maturing, something is hindering the growth, and it is us and our choices. In Matthew, Jesus states that we cannot both serve Him and the world. A choice must be made.

I don’t know about you, but I want the straight and narrow that leads straight to Jesus! I must know this myself and pursue this yearning of spiritual maturity and allow God to cut away the wickedness all around me. Jesus, the Sower and the Sustainer of my soul, can remove those thorns if I allow Him to! Whether it be those pleasurable possessions, a high paying job, worldly movies or music, continuing relationships that encourage walking in the flesh and not the Spirit; whatever the Holy Spirit may reveal to you that is choking you and hindering maturity, it must be cut out and removed!!

As the Proverb instructs, guard your soul so that you may keep away from them. When you keep away from them, true maturity will take place, and you will see the fruit produced. When you walk it out, it will be easier to explain and display to your own children to do the same. Cultivating in them for what is to come in life and to guide them on what the Word says to combat against the thorns that can be snares in their walk with the Lord.

I pray as parents that the Lord continues to reveal the impurities that must be removed. That we allow Him, through the Holy Spirit indwelling us, to reveal to us what must be cut away and removed. That we only have space for Him to completely consume us. That this transformation is displayed to our children so that they may see He mighty work within us. That it encourages them to allow Jesus to do the same within them. Until then, I encourage you to be aware of the thorns around your children. That you have been entrusted to guard their souls until they are equipped to do so themselves. This part of the preparation allows the Sower’s seeds to be thrown on soil that isn’t surrounded by thorns. Remember that these thorns could ensnare and choke out the growth that may have taken place.

Lord, help us to heed to your Word. I pray for ourselves and our children to have hearts that displays soil that has been tended to, and that through You what is grown has “produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”
In Jesus Name