In the parable of the sower, Jesus explained that the seed is the truth(the Word of God). When the seed is flung onto the path, it is heard but quickly stolen away. When the seed is tossed onto the rocks, no roots take hold; there is an appearance of depth and growth because of the good soil, but it is only surface level. When the seed is spread among the thorns, it is received but soon suffocated by life's worries, riches, and pleasures. But when the seed is sown in good soil, it grows, takes root, and produces fruit.
Do not assume you are good soil.
"I think most American churchgoers are the soil that chokes the seed because of all the thorns. Thorns are anything that distracts us from God. When we want God and a bunch of other stuff, then that means we have thorns in our soil. A relationship with God simply cannot grow when money, sins, activities, favorite sports teams, addictions, or commitments are piled on top of it."
"Are you satisfied being "godly enough" to get yourself to heaven, or to look good in comparison to others? Or can you say with Paul that you "want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death"(Phil. 3:10).- Francis Chan author of Crazy Love
He wrote a chap. in his book called profile of the lukewarm. The chapter goes on to talk about lukewarm people with some scriptures added in. I'm just going to make a list of some of the characteristics of a lukewarm person and you can examine yourself to see how your life is being lived.
"Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe "good Christians" do, so they go."
"Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church...as long as it doesn't impinge on their standard of living."
"Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions than what God thinks of their hearts and lives."
"Lukewarm people don't really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don't genuinely hate sin and aren't truly sorry for it; they're merely sorry because God is going to punish them."
"Lukewarm people are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act."
Lukewarm people rarely share their faith.
"Lukewarm people gauge their morality by comparing themselves to the secular world. They are satisfied with not being as bad as the guy down the street."
Lukewarm people say they love Jesus but He isn't allowed to control their lives.
"Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love of others is typically focused on those who love them in return."
"Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give."
"Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven."
"Lukewarm people are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor."
Jesus asks for everything. But we try to give Him less.
Jesus said, "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out."Luke 14:34-35
"Jesus is saying that lukewarm, halfhearted following is useless, that it sickens our souls. He is saying that this kind of salt is not even fit 'for the manure pile.'
How would you like to hear the Son of God say, 'You would ruin manure'?"
I have been thinking about this all day. How do I measure up? Am I a lukewarm person? Sad to say but in some areas I believe I am. Did you examine yourself? Are you a lukewarm person? I'll close with an illustration that Francis Chan used in this chapter. "Everyone knows that if you sign up for the Marines, you have to do whatever they tell you. They own you. Somehow this realization does not cross over to our thinking about the Christian life. Jesus didn't say that if you wanted to follow Him you could do it in a lukewarm manner. He said, 'Take up your cross and follow me.'"
I highly recommend this book called Crazy Love. It is challenging and convicting!
