Scripture:
Luke 8:5-8 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
Observation:
I’m struck for the first time that %75 of the seed actually took root. The %50 that didn’t make it – they might have if someone were caring for them. I think if I were to identify what “rocky soil” looks like in someone’s life, I would look to community. The seed among thorns doesn’t take any more pondering for me – In fact, it’s stuff that I think American Christians are consistently faced with: “the cares and riches and pleasures of this life.”
Application:
As a church staff member, I think I am part of the “gardening team” for the seed Dad has cast. So, in light of this verse and my observation, my two application steps would be to A) help people find deep, rich community at Life Center and B) help people clear their thorns. The addition of Cobblestone to our website offers substantial resources for building community – I need to invest time in this. Clearing their thorns though … I’m not exactly sure how to do this. Perhaps this is a focus issue. How can I help people focus on God instead of their thorns. I think consistent online resources could really help with this. With all the social media and SMS technology, we’ve got better and better access to lives. I wonder if an active Life Center twitter account could help?
Prayer:
Lord – you are the master gardener. You know the needs for each of us. Please help me see the needs you would have me address, and then give me the inspiration and wisdom to do so.
Scripture:
John 1:37-39 “When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.”
Observation:
Jesus was such a relational guy. It may be that there is some deeper or implicit meaning or significance in the statement “where are you staying,” but it seems a simple question to me. It should also have a simple answer! “The Red Lion, down the street,” or “Under the bridge by the big red wagon,” or “Over at Levi’s house.” Short – not needing explanation or investigation. But Jesus makes this question an opportunity to build relationships – “Come and see!”
Application:
To be honest, I can’t help but think I would’ve thought something like “Okay… I didn’t think this needed to be an ordeal, it was pretty straightforward.” I need to be more like the disciples and jump at any chance to build my relationship with someone – ultimately our life here has nothing to do with the tasks that fill our time, it’s about who we’re filling that time with. Second, I need to be more like Jesus. I need to see everything as an opportunity to develop relationships. Broad-stroke application: do the best I can to show answers, no matter how simple. Pointed God-called-me-out application: resume the sermon uploading process with Jeff, a task which is so much simpler alone (except that I’m missing the point!).
Prayer:
Help me love people better, help me love them more.
Scripture:
Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of His coming back again is drawing near.”
Application:
This verse jumped out at me pretty quick today. It’s been a while since I’ve been to church now. My devotions are, and should be, my main source of growth. However, church is an essential part of Christianity – of being a part of the body of Christ. It’s more difficult with kids, but countless people somehow make it to church each week. I just need to decide beforehand that I am going and do whatever it takes to get there. I know I should be going.
Prayer:
Lord, help me make this happen.
Scripture:
Hebrews 3:13 “You must warn each other every day, …, so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.”
Observation:
The author gives two results if we don’t heed the warning to confront each other daily – first, we will be deceived. It’s almost like we lose our mirrors. We begin to sin and because it “feels” right, we convince ourselves (on some level) that this particular act isn’t a sin. This isn’t the part that struck me though, and I suppose the second part isn’t necessarily a completely new thought, but for some reason it’s jumping out to me. After we’re deceived by sin, then we’re hardened against God. What a dangerous place to be where God ceases to have voice or rule in your life. It seems to me this could exist on a macro scale over your life, or on a micro scale over an area of your life.
Application:
It would be so valuable to identify the “areas” of my life and then answer to myself and to a friend a list of questions aimed at ferreting deception of sin and hardening in my life.
Prayer:
Lord, let me never be deceived, nor hardened.
Scripture:
It’s been weeks since I’ve come across a verse that spoke to me.
Observation:
My journaling times had been so rich. I’m really enjoying the blogging aspect – it connects something I’m excited about doing to my morning devotions, and that makes me excited about the habit. I’ve been purposeful about inviting the Lord and asking him to show me and speak to me. I’m not rushed in the process or trying to just get it done. Lately I have been feeling like I want to talk about what I’ve been reading … though there’s nothing in particular I have to share. Perhaps in these “dry” times it’s good to see where or how God is speaking to others. I don’t think it’s unique to have this feeling, but I feel like I need Spiritual Rejuvenation. Interesting – it’s been a while since I’ve had meaningful contact with growing Christians. We haven’t been to church in several weeks, or our small group. It seems odd to me that this would reflect in my personal devotions … a hypothesis I suppose.
Application:
I do know that our small group, if timing stays as it is, will be difficult to attend, now and, increasingly, in the future. I need to figure out how to re-insert myself into a growing community.
Prayer:
Lord – thank you for meeting me. If the problem is just a thick skull, please help me – simplify what you want to show me. If the problem is a community thing – help me figure that out. If this is just a dry time, give me patience, diligence, and an extra measure of faith.
