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Matthew 13.20-21 NLT
‘The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.’
These days farmers sow seed with great precision and very little is wasted, but in Jesus’ time it was a much more haphazard process. Skilled as the farmer might be, when he scattered his seed with his hand it was bound to land in a variety of places. It landed on the path, in rocky soil or amongst thorns but only a proportion would find good soil. Jesus used this parable to describe the very different ways in which people responded to his message, and we can easily recognise the truth of his words today.
The seed that landed on the rocky soil struggled from the outset because it couldn’t put down adequate roots. It grew fast for a while but soon it keeled over and died. Jesus said that this was like people who heard the message of the Kingdom and got really excited about it. But because they hadn’t put down deep roots, they soon became distracted by problems and persecution.
Their initial burst of enthusiasm was soon a distant memory. This parable teaches us many lessons but it particularly emphasises the importance of putting down deep roots. It is always encouraging when people respond enthusiastically and joyfully to the Christian message. But it isn’t enough. The sudden rush of enthusiasm needs to be followed by the growth of long tapering roots that ensure the steady flow of nourishment for the years to come. The roots grow as we get to know God better and that happens through prayer, fellowship, the reading of the Bible and by deliberately turning our attention towards God. Roots are, by their very nature, hidden but without them there can be no life.
QUESTION: How are you developing your roots in God?
PRAYER: Lord God our Father, help us to grow in you today and to find ways of developing deep roots that will sustain us for the years to come. Amen
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