by Dennis and Barbara Rainey

Mark 4:18-19
"And the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful."

The final thorn or weed which hinders fruitfulness in our lives is the desire for other things. Some of these weeds are easily spotted, like sexual lust, an addiction to pornography, or perversions. But other cravings aren't so easily identifiable: food, clothing, jewelry, car, job, salary, a hobby or sport, or even the location or kind of house we live in. Any desire that drives us, controls our thinking or preoccupies our minds can be a weed that hinders growth in our lives.

One good way to spot this weed is to check your conversations: What are you most excited about? What subjects do you discuss with others? What preoccupies your thoughts daily? Is it something honorable?

I guess what scares me about all these weeds is their potential for multiplication. When I was a kid, I used to take great delight in breaking off the stem of a dandelion that proudly held a cluster of seeds. A stiff breeze or the slightest whiff of breath would instantly launch a jillion of those tiny, angel-hair parachutes. Now, as I fight the spread of these wind-borne warriors, I can't help but wonder how many dandelions there are in just one of those seed puffs?

Letting just one "weed" grow freely in your life could result in a crop failure of good fruit. Thorns and thistles reduce the yield of the harvest. A friend of mine who grows popcorn once told me that weeds left unattended can cut the harvest by as much as 40 to 60 percent. I couldn't help but think about how I need to get serious about pulling, poisoning and plowing under the weeds in my own life.

I wish I had some high-powered nuclear herbicide to help you instantly eradicate weeds from your life. The reality is that all soil has weed seeds. Lives do too. What you and I need is a personal visit from the Master Gardener and His hoe.

Prayer:

Ask God to do some fresh cultivation in the soil of your heart.

Discuss: What desires "for other things" preoccupy your thoughts on a daily basis?

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