RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL
THE CARES OF THIS LIFE .
Monday, February 26th , 2018
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares (Luke 21:34).
The parable of the sower that Jesus told in Mark chapter 4 shows us the reason the Word of God is unfruitful in the lives of some people. These people are overwhelmed by the cares of this life: “And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world… choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful” (Mark 4:18-19).
When you find a Christian who isn’t bearing fruits that are consistent with the Word of God, it’s because he or she is encumbered with the cares of this life, therefore receiving the Word amongst thorns. “Thorns” here refers to “the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things.” These things choke the Word of God in people’s lives and make it unproductive, thus resulting in many not living to their potentials in Christ.
1 John 2:15 says, _*“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”*_ Our opening scripture says, _*“…take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting.” God wants your affection and attention set on Him and His eternal Word, on things in heaven and not on things in the earth (Colossians 3:2). He wants you to guard your heart and make it a fertile ground always for His Word to not only be deep-rooted, but also to produce the desired result.
In Proverbs 23:26, He said, “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” He doesn’t want you chasing after the vain things of life, but rather that you meditate on the Word and let it gain the ascendancy in your life. That way, you’d have a fruitful and productive life: “Blessed is the man that…his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper”*_ (Psalm 1:1-3).
PRAYER
Blessed Father, my heart is fixed on you, to serve you, love you, and bear fruits of righteousness. Nothing in the world satisfies as much as the pleasure of knowing you and living for you! My gaze is set on you, to know and walk in your wisdom, fulfilling your will and purpose for my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: Mark 4:14-20 The sower soweth the word. 15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 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. 20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive [it], and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Mark 7:24-8:1-13,
Numbers 1-2
2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Acts 21:27-39,
Psalm 42-43