Asphalt Acorns

Asphalt Acorns

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“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear,” Mark 4:3b-9a, NIV.

As I walk in the morning my path leads me underneath a huge oak tree. There on the ground lay a plethora of acorns, waiting to either be harvested by the community of squirrels around the area, or to find soil to plant and regrow.

It seems to me the squirrel community apparently has plenty of acorns stored up in their winter nooks and crannies here in Southern California. If not, they are missing out on a gold mine for them.

As I look at the acorns smashed, ground, and kicked about on this asphalt turf, I am reminded that the Word of God also falls upon such unforgiving soil at times.

Have you ever witnessed someone flat out rejecting God’s love, God’s mercy and God’s salvation? I have, and it broke my heart.

Maybe you struggle with accepting a truth from God that you would rather ignore? You might have gladly received yesterday’s teaching, but today you question God and His Word. Don’t let Satan kick around God’s truth in such a way that you miss what can set you free. God’s Word is the only thing that has that power and capability to forgive, break strongholds, and set us free. His Word heals, restores and is filled with satisfying peace.

If you aren’t experiencing any of this, try trusting it without doubts, or fear, and just believe because God said it. Is that easy? No. But faith is rewarding.

Then study to figure it out for understanding, He will help you. God has kept me understanding His Word for over 40 years. Even through the dry seasons.

Struggles can either pull you in or push you away. We all have them, all of us. We just have to decide for ourselves if we want God’s truth to land on a heart as hard as asphalt, or one that is tender, ready for growth.

Father,

You never stop trying to reach out to us—those who have been made in Your image. You want us to know the truth so we can apply it to our lives. Thank You.

Help us to surrender to You, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.

Help us to trust You in the difficult and the seemingly impossible choices we hear You speak about in Your Word.

You created us, help us to honor, respect and believe You.

Because of Your Son, we can say—

Amen.