CHOKING ON THORNS - We can't serve two masters because we'll end up hating one of them. If we nurture the thorns in our hearts, they will strangle our productivity and effectiveness as Christians and we'll never have a mature faith. Jesus used the analogy of thorny weeds for worldly treasures and earthly worries that choke the growth of God's Word in our hearts. Just as a gardener must regularly pull up the thorns in his garden, we must identify and pull up the thorns in our hearts. - Thorny weeds: they have no value, but they steal space, water, sunlight, and soil nutrients from plants. The bigger they get, the harder they are to pull out. No wonder Jesus used this analogy for worldly treasures and earthly worries that choke the growth of God's Word in our hearts. “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.” Those are strong words ... and true. We can't serve two masters because we'll end up hating one of them. If we nurture the thorns in our hearts, they will strangle our productivity and effectiveness as Christians and we'll never have a mature faith. Just as a gardener must regularly pull up the thorns in his garden, we must identify and pull up the thorns in our hearts. Are you willing to do some "weeding" today? We can't serve two masters because we'll end up hating one of them.

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Are You Choking on Thorns?

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We can't serve two masters because we'll end up hating one of them. If we nurture the thorns in our hearts, they will strangle our productivity and effectiveness as Christians and we'll never have a mature faith. Jesus used the analogy of thorny weeds for worldly treasures and earthly worries that choke the growth of God's Word in our hearts. Just as a gardener must regularly pull up the thorns in his garden, we must identify and pull up the thorns in our hearts.
Gail Burton Purath

 

Thorny weeds: they have no value, but they steal space, water, sunlight, and soil nutrients from plants.

The bigger they get, the harder they are to pull out. 

No wonder Jesus used this analogy for worldly treasures and earthly worries that choke the growth of God's Word in our hearts (Matthew 13:7; and verse 22). 

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.” 1 John 2:15

Those are strong words ... and true.

We can't serve two masters because we'll end up hating one of them (Matthew 6:24).

If we nurture the thorns in our hearts, they will strangle our productivity and effectiveness as Christians and we'll never have a mature faith.

Just as a gardener must regularly pull up the thorns in his garden, we must identify and pull up the thorns in our hearts.

Are you willing to do some "weeding" today? 

Hi!  I'm Gail Burton Purath. I started Bible Love Notes to give people a minute of Scriptural encouragement in their busy day.

I don't have all the answers, but

since I asked Christ to be my Lord and Savior in 1974, I've been learning from the One Who has all the answers!
I'm still a sinner, a learner, a student who falls down and disappoints God at times. But it's my desire to grow closer to the Lord, day by day, minute by minute.

I need to be challenged, encouraged, corrected and comforted, and I think you do as well...so let's learn together about the love of God--a love that is so vast that we will always be discovering new and wonderful things about it.

https://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com/2018/08/are-you-choking-on-thorns.html

 

DIVINE SETUPS - Do not be surprised if Jesus allows you to experience some painful circumstance. Sometimes the lessons we must learn are very painful - this confrontation with reality is necessary at times in our lives - Peter perceived himself to be so spiritually strong that he was prepared to suffer greatly for his Master. Yet Jesus knew where Peter really was in his own pilgrimage. He knew that Peter’s enthusiasm did not match his reality. He was suffering from an attitude of self-righteousness. So, how did Jesus help Peter match his perception to his reality? Peter was the object of a divine setup. Notice that Satan asked permission to sift Peter as wheat. Jesus determined that Satan would be used to bring Peter to the maturity level both Jesus and Peter really desired. And Jesus was praying that Peter would pass the test. Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times that very day. Peter could not believe what Jesus was saying. Sometimes the lessons we must learn are very painful. This experience was necessary in Peter’s life. It was necessary to purge Peter from his sin of self-righteousness. This very lesson would allow Peter to come face to face with his own misperception of where he was in his relationship and devotion to Jesus. When he was forced to confront this, it nearly broke him apart. He wept bitterly once he realized he had done just as Jesus had predicted.

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Divine Setups

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Do not be surprised if Jesus allows you to experience some painful circumstance. Sometimes the lessons we must learn are very painful - this confrontation with reality is necessary at times in our lives

by: Os Hillman

 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32

Have you ever perceived yourself to be at one place spiritually only to discover that you were actually far from this place?

Peter perceived himself to be so spiritually strong that he was prepared to suffer greatly for his Master.

Yet Jesus knew where Peter really was in his own pilgrimage. He knew that Peter’s enthusiasm did not match his reality.

He was suffering from an attitude of self-righteousness.

So, how did Jesus help Peter match his perception to his reality?

Peter was the object of a divine setup.

First, notice that Satan asked permission to sift Peter as wheat.

Jesus determined that Satan would be used to bring Peter to the maturity level both Jesus and Peter really desired.

And Jesus was praying that Peter would pass the test.

Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times that very day. Peter could not believe what Jesus was saying.

Sometimes the lessons we must learn are very painful.

This experience was necessary in Peter’s life. It was necessary to purge Peter from his sin of self-righteousness.

This very lesson would allow Peter to come face to face with his own misperception of where he was in his relationship and devotion to Jesus.

When he was forced to confront this, it nearly broke him apart. He wept bitterly once he realized he had done just as Jesus had predicted.

This confrontation with reality is necessary at times in our lives.

Do not be surprised if Jesus allows you to experience some painful circumstance.

You may be the subject of a divine setup designed to bring you to a greater maturity level in your walk with Jesus.

It may not be a fun experience when you go through it, but you will, like Peter, become a leader whom God will use to lead others.

Os Hillman formerly owned and operated an ad agency in Atlanta for 12 years. He began Marketplace Leaders in 1995 and since then Os  has encouraged thousands of men and women to seek God’s calling on their own lives as it relates to their vocation and to view their work as ministry. Marketplace Leaders and the TGIF devotional that is read in 104 countries today helps men and women fulfill their calling and purpose in their work and life. Os has written 18 books and spoken in more than 26 nations around the globe encouraging, equipping and educating people to live out God’s calling in their lives. His latest book released in July 2017  is The Joseph Calling: 6 stages to fulfill, navigate and fulfill your purpose.

Os Hillman speaks at conferences, churches, luncheons, retreats, and other events and also teaches workshops. If your group is looking for insights, guidance and inspiration to follow God’s call, contact us to partner with you in your ministry!

https://todaygodisfirst.com/divine-setups/