28/06/2014

Thought #19 — Did you see Superman in a miniskirt?

Part of the “40 Thoughts of Jesus” series – start reading from #1 here…

“…they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” Mark 4.18,19

One of the things that have always intrigued me: people who are incredibly intelligent at some things who cannot understand the words of God. They understand trigonometry and algebra. They program computers. They play an instrument by ear only. They talk to plants (and some swear they can also hear them). They learn other languages. But they take no notice of what God says.

Jesus explains why. When we pay attention to certain things, we overlook others. For example: imagine a very busy pedestrian street. You are sitting at a place where you can see people going from one side to the other, and you decide to count how many of them are wearing some white clothing. The girl wearing a white shirt, one. The lady wearing a white shawl, two. The boy wearing white tennis shoes, three… While you are attentive to everyone wearing something white, you become blind to all other colors and even people’s faces. At that moment, even if Superman walked past you wearing a red miniskirt and wiggling, you wouldn’t notice him. This is for real!

This is that happens with the words of God. They bring power, direction, peace, strength… solution to all our longings. But as we look at which celebrity has a new boyfriend, the score of that game, or how we can get richer, more beautiful and younger, we pay no attention to what God is telling us.

For example: did you notice the expression “enter in” in the Thought of Jesus above? Stop for a moment and think of what it means. There are many things entering in and choking the words of God. Hundreds. Thousands. It is up to us to choose what we are going to pay attention to.

Application: See if your concerns have been dominated by the desire to keep what you have, to earn more, to feel this or that through material possessions or experiences. Replace them with time to understand and practice the words of God.

Did you notice the expression “enter in” before or only after I mentioned it? Are you anxious about anything right now that is making you leave the things of God for later? How can you make the words of God win the competition for your attention? Leave your comments.