Day 251
Matthew 13:20-21 NIV
"The one who receives the seed on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away."
Many people have attended church services and shouted with excitement, as they heard the Word of God being taught or preached. Yet, those same people failed in the very areas they were shouting about. Being excited about the Word is no indication that it will do us any good. Jesus said, as He explained a parable he taught His disciples, that a man who joyfully receives the Word but has no root will only benefit temporarily. He will only last as long as he does not experience pressure to give up.
Unless we develop a habit of studying, meditating and practicing the Word of God, we will not succeed when our faith is tried. Jesus said the man who cannot last when persecution comes is like rocky soil that has just enough dirt to cause the seed to grow, but not enough to give it a root system that will strengthen it to outlast the heat of the sun.
Prayer, praise and worship are three of the important habits the Bible endorses. God's Word will more easily develop a root system in us when we fellowship with the author and receive strength by ministering to Him. We receive joy, which produces strength, when we bask in His presence. When we pray in line with the Word and experience results, it encourages us when we face new challenges. When we praise our great and mighty God for who He is and what He has done, is doing and will do, it reduces the size of the problems we face. When we worship Him, we remind ourselves of His worthiness and our obligation to serve Him, no matter what comes against us.
The Bible also teaches us that we need to attend church and engage in wholesome Christian fellowship to help us develop a root system in church attendance. Hebrews I0:25 exhorts us to come together more often and to encourage each other, as we see the end of time approaching. We draw strength from our brothers and sisters who are facing the same challenges we are facing. We also need to belong to a group of believers and have a pastor we respect - one who can help us through difficult times. Jesus gave us pastors and other ministers to help us grow up and mature spiritually. He would not give us something that is unnecessary. Whatever He has given us is necessary for us to live as overcomers.
So, the next time we hear or read the Word and get thrilled over it, let us not be fooled into thinking our excitement is all we need to guarantee victory when trials come to test our faith. After the thrill is gone, we must make sure we are living consistent lives of meditation, study, prayer, praise, worship and Christian fellowship. We need all the help we can get to develop a root system that will enable us to endure the trials of our faith that will come to us periodically.
When I get excited about the Word, I will not allow the thrill of the moment to be a sign that the Word has taken root in me. I will follow up with a consistent life of meditation, study, prayer, praise, worship and Christian fellowship.