An excerpt from my journal: Thorns

Hosea 10:13:
"You have plowed iniquity; you have reaped injustice."


South Africa is experiencing the fruit of injustice, because years ago they plowed iniquity in their actions that led to apartheid. Now they are reaping what they sowed: terrible injustice. Yet, Lord, why do the whites whose ancestors plowed the iniquity not suffer? And the blacks remain in poverty with all the evils that come with it? But I know that luxury and riches carry their own evils, more subtle but more intense. And after all, it is the poor in spirit who will inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Lord keep my eyes on eternity. Here they may live in a shack,

 but there a mansion built by You.

Jeremiah 4:3:
"Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns."
Matthew 13:22:
"As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful."

They may appear successful, but are their riches choking out God's fruit?

The seed sown is Gospel. Not just personal salvation from hell. But Kingdom Living: justice, mercy, righteousness, faith.

How easily these get choked out of my life, or prove unfruitful, because of the deceitfulness of riches and the cares of the world?

I am not "safe" from this here. How easy it is to get caught up in the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches, while poverty is on my doorstep, and outside my window.

Isaiah 45:8: God says:
"Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the Lord have created it."


He created South Africa. He created our hearts. Lord open us up so Your salvation and righteousness may bear fruit here, let us be soil that fosters them to sprout.