An Easily Distracted Dog

The other day, my wife Kim and I were talking about how difficult it is to walk at a decent pace when we are with our dog, Mabel.   Without her, we can walk at the kind of pace that gets your heart pumping and causes you to work up a sweat.  But, when we are with Mabel, it is more of a slow stroll, if that.  The problem is that Mabel is so easily distracted.  Even if we get her to an exercise pace for a bit, the movement of a squirrel, the bark of another dog, or the opening of a garage door causes her to stop, sniff, and bark.  Just a scent in the wind or the rustle of the trees can cause her to stop and point.  She is truly an easily distracted dog. 

In his parable about the Seed, the Sower, and the Soil (the parable on which I preached last Sunday), Jesus warns us about having distracted hearts—or, what we might call a distracted faith. Jesus talks about people whose hearts are like the soil that receives the seed in such a way that the seed can begin to germinate and grow, but is as well filled with weeds and thorns.  Jesus says that eventually the weeds and thorns choke the life out of the good plant.  He then explains that this soil is like the person who hears and receives the Word of God, “…but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches, and pleasures, and they do not mature.”  (Luke 8:14 – NIV)  In other words, they have become distracted. 

The person with a distracted faith starts out in the way of faith.  They begin to walk the walk of faith. They may even get up to a good pace.  But then, like our dog Mabel, the things around them easily catch their attention.  The cares of life, their desire for material gain, and their longing for pleasure cause them to turn, look, slow down, and even stop.  Before you know it, they are no longer walking in the way of faith. They have become distracted from their faith.

Today let’s take a look at our hearts.  How easily are we distracted from our faith? What things in our lives have the potential to distract us away from our faith? And, let’s do as the Bible tells us to do, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith….”  (Hebrews 12:2 – NIV)   

Have a great day!

Pastor Tim Harris