The Slow Fade of Distraction | Wednesday
“The greatest enemy of devotion is not outright denial, it is distraction.”
Key Verse
As for the seed that fell among the thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit. (Luke 8:14)
Reflection
Of all the unproductive soils, the thorny ground is the most deceptive. Here, the seed actually sprouts and begins to grow. Everything looks fine on the surface. This represents a heart that hears the Word and is seemingly growing in faith, but is also allowing other things to grow alongside it. Jesus identifies three types of spiritual “weeds” that compete for our devotion: worries, riches, and pleasures. These aren’t necessarily sinful things in themselves, but they become dangerous when they begin to compete with Christ for our allegiance. The anxieties of life, the pursuit of wealth and possessions, and the endless chase for entertainment can slowly and quietly wrap around a tender faith, choking out its vitality. Satan knows that a direct assault on our faith might fail, but if he can keep us distracted, our devotion will fade. A distracted heart is a heart with compromised devotion. It leads to a life that may look Christian but produces no lasting, mature fruit for the kingdom.
Question
What “weeds”—worries, a desire for more, or worldly pleasures—are competing for devotion in the soil of your heart right now?
Prayer Starter
God, open my eyes to see the distractions that are choking my devotion to you. Give me the wisdom to identify them and the strength to pull them out by the root so that my life can be fruitful for you.
Family Element
Go outside and find a weedy patch in the yard. Talk about how weeds don’t need any help to grow and how they can take over a garden. Have everyone work together to pull the weeds. As you do, talk about the “weeds” in our lives (like too much screen time or worrying) that can keep the “good plants” (like loving Jesus and others) from growing strong.