“Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.” Luke 8:13
You ever been in a service or a bible study and you felt strong? Like you could make a change that would last? But then as soon as you were by yourself or something happened that you weren't prepared for or that you normally would give in to, you lost everything you just gained? All of the sudden the Word that was preached didn’t mean that much. The amazing moment of singing songs meant nothing. The only feeling you were left with was defeat or hopelessness.
The above scripture is a part of a parable that Jesus taught regarding different places that people are in when they hear the word of God. Sadly many people fall into this category: they hear the word and receive gladly but fall away when things get tough. This is real. We love to be encouraged but often lack discipline to withstand testing when it comes. We love the word of God when we don’t have to do anything but the moment we have to put into practice what we were taught, we struggle.
This verse gives the reason why many of us are in this place of hearing a great, encouraging and even timely word but then falling away. Many have no roots. You ever seen a plant with very shallow roots? You could accidentally kick it and the entire plant would come up. This is how many of us look spiritually. We appear beautiful and deeply rooted on the outside but if someone looked beyond the surface, they would see that our roots don’t run deep at all.
According to google, the tree with the deepest roots measuring at 400 feet is the Wild Fig tree. That means that you could kick the tree, you could rain on the tree, you could blow strong winds on that tree, but it will not move because of how deep it’s roots are. If we don’t learn how to be deeply rooted in the Word of God, we’ll never be able to make it once we are alone. Times of testing will come but when they come, it’s not so that we can throw away everything we were taught through the word.
“because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:3-4
This is why so many of us are walking around immature and incomplete. We won’t go through testing well. We forget the word of God exists when things get rough. We are more accustomed to trying to figure it out on our own than using the word of God as a guide of wisdom on how to respond.
What are some things that you have heard or are learning that you keep letting fall away because times get a little challenging? Let’s not be like the seeds that fell on rocky ground who are excited when we hear the word but have no follow through when it really matters.
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