Last week we began a series on our Roots that stemmed from Jeremiah 17:8. If you haven’t read it yet start here. We first discussed the first place seeds landed in a passage from Matthew 13. We learned that if our hearts are the hardened, beat down soil along the path of life, God’s Word, His seeds, are simply not able to penetrate into our lives. We hear but rarely are able to receive His guidance. To read that post click here.

Continuing on in our series on Roots, today we are looking at the second set of seeds that fell. Let’s look back at the Scripture to refresh our memory, Matthew 13:5-6

Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away

At first glance at the beginning of this verse we might think, “Yeah! The seeds sprang up into flowers fast!”. Not so fast my friends, not so fast. The seeds that fell along the rocky ground, where there is not much soil . . . the roots of this plant don’t have enough soil to take hold of anything. The plant springs up immediately but because there is no depth as soon as the heat hits they are scorched and whither away as fast as they sprang up. They have no nourishment. No depth. No relief from the hot sun beating down on them. Their roots are not deep enough to find water to quench their thirst. Can you see where this is going?

The bare truth is, some of us are rocky soil. We go to a women’s event or a passion-filled church service, we hear God’s Word and we get really excited about how it will radically change our lives. But because there is no depth, no intimate and continual relationship there, we shrivel up as soon as the trials of life come our way. Just as the seeds shrivel at the sun, we too are quick to be offended and easily hurt. Just like those flowers the smallest amount of heat pointed in our direction and all of that excitement fades into a defensive and easily angered stance.

Jesus told us this scorching sun would shine on us. In John 16:33:

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

We must not allow our hearts to become this rocky soil. To other people, we probably seem like a good Christian. But in reality we are the worst kind of Christ follower. We are lukewarm. Trouble will come, and because of this we must position ourselves and our hearts in a way that we will not be burnt alive by the heat. Jesus is our shelter. Jesus is our good soil. Jesus is where our nourishment comes from. Jesus is our protection from the heat. Jesus is all of these things, but if we do not continually pursue a relationship with Him we will never move from the rocky soil. We will never see the depth of His love and His blessings in our life.

Is your heart like rocky ground today? Do you get excited after a spiritual encounter with Christ and then quickly fall back into your normal life? Does your spiritual life feel like a roller coaster with constant ups and downs? I will admit, I have been this type of soil. I have been on this roller coaster. I have been easily offended by every little thing, just as the sun-scorched those flowers. It was such an emotional and raw place to be. I praise my Heavenly Father, for when I pressed into Him and desired to grow deeper, He answered my call in more ways than I ever thought possible. God does not desire for us to have a roller coaster relationship with Him. Life will hand us tons of ups and downs, but our relationship with Christ . . . that is meant to be constant, close and intimate, never wavering.

Can you relate to this type of soil? Have you been there? Are you there today? There is hope my friend. And He is extending His hand to you, asking you to step into the good soil with Him each day. Stay tuned later this week to hear more in this series!

 

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