Overcome the Thorns

Cursed is the ground because of you;

In toil you will eat of it

All the days of your life.

“Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;

And you will eat the plants of the field;

By the sweat of your face

You will eat bread,

Till you return to the ground,

Because from it you were taken;

For you are dust,

And to dust you shall return.”

We live in a sin-cursed world.  The world itself is not sinful; it never disobeys the commands of God.  It is under the curse because of man’s sin.  Even so, inherent in God’s curse, is a blessing.

To the man in Genesis 3, God initiated futility of labor.  The curse brought thorns, thistles, sweat and eventual physical death.  God graciously allows man to still bear fruit upon the earth, but after our sin, it will always be borne in the midst of thorns and thistles and always with much labor.

The eyes of faith then must look beyond the curse to the promise.  Frequently we focus on the thorns which prick our skin.  We complain about the difficulty of the task and the smallness of the harvest.  Our eyes are fixed on the curse, not the promise.  Christian, expect the thorns.  Endure the sweat.  Pursue the fruit.  God will bring a rich harvest.

I want to specifically address missionaries.  The most common reason for missionaries leaving the field is conflict with their team—sounds like thorns to me.  There is much that is wrong with every missionary endeavor.  It is staffed by individuals who still struggle with sin.  It is engaged in attacking the strongholds of an angelically powerful force of wickedness.  It is occurring in a world that still falls under the curse of God.  However, such obstacles have not eliminated the harvest.  God has promised that we will eat the bread.  He will still provide the harvest we desire.

     Dear missionaries, please look past the curse and see the great good that God is doing even in the midst of the curse.  Focus on the objective—Matthew 24:14—and keep your hand to the plow.  We who have sent you will pray for power in your life.  Please stick with the task.