Like APPLES OF GOLD in a setting of silver Is a word spoken at the proper time – Proverbs 25v11
Last week we began a study of the Parable of the Sower and focused on the seed that fell on hard ground. Today we look at the seed (the Word of God) that fell amongst rocks as we read in Luke 8v6: “Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture”. The meaning is given in verse 13: “Those seeds 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”.
Maybe you are somebody who in the past had an emotional response to the Gospel message and “made a decision for Christ”. The excitement of this new experience sustained you for a while, but then the reality hit home that being a Christian doesn’t change your circumstances or problems and instead involves a sacrifice of time, possible loss of friends and self-denial. Maybe you were promised or thought that your life would be more healthy, wealthy and happy and when you found out that wasn’t the case your faith wavered and you became disillusioned with Christianity because “it doesn’t work”. This is very sad because you are now probably cynical and even antagonistic towards spiritual matters. The reality is that if your belief in Jesus Christ germinated in rocky soil your faith withered when trials and tragedies came your way because there was no life-giving water of the Holy Spirit to sustain you.
My prayer is that your heart of stone will be replaced by a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36v26) and God’s seed will then fall in good and fertile soil so it grows and bears fruit. It has been said that “if Christ is not Lord of all He is not Lord at all” so we need to surrender our life wholly to Jesus Christ and make Him Lord in all aspects of our soul, spirit and mind. Then you will experience the real peace, joy and purposeful life He wants you to have notwithstanding any tests and trials that come your way.
Next week we will look at the seed that got choked by thorns.
God Bless
Graeme Greenwood