Dangerous Rocks in the Soil

Daily Devotional for May 8^th

They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.  Luke 8:13

The parables of Jesus reveal so much concerning life’s struggles and those of the heart.  Jesus’ teachings penetrate far deeper than these issues, though.  They get to the core of who we are and the very intentions of our heart.  Jesus used these parables to bring to light issues that will destroy our walk with Him. 

This particular parable addresses the ground in which the Word of God is sown.  It’s a parable concerning the heart.  Did you know your heart suffers issues similar to soil containing dry ground, rocks and thorns?  All of these are potential causes of spiritual destruction. 

In particularly, those who received seed sown amidst rocks were those who had heard the gospel, yet something devastating took place.  A heart can become so hardened by life’s events that very little seems to penetrate it.  Sometimes a hard heart becomes a safety mechanism because we have been so badly hurt.  But here, the rocks in the heart prevented the Word from growing deep into it.  Therefore no roots were able to reach far enough to prevent destruction.

Roots are by far the most important part of a plant or tree.  First they draw the minerals from the soil to aid fruit production.  The tree that produces fruit is evidence that not only was the seed was good but the ground also in which it was sown.  In a time of temptation or great storms, the roots hold the tree firm.  If there are rocks in your heart, then spiritual destruction may be just a storm away.  If there are places in your heart where you have not allowed the roots of God’s word to get into, then those same places could result in your falling away. 

Ask the Lord to reveal those stony places which may be preventing you from surviving the storms of life.  He is faithful!  The Bibles says He is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless…Jude 1:24.  Instead of grudgingly viewing the Lord’s dealing with your rocks, realize He is simply trying to remove that which will cause you to fall away.