Luke the beloved physician shared how Jesus said, “A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that has ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then comes the devil, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved”, and in chapter eight and verse thirteen of his book Luke shared how Jesus spoke about the seed, “on the rock” where we read:
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.
The verse reads, “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy;” Luke began with the words, “they on the rock are they” or “the seed which was scattered on the rocky ground are people”, “which, when they hear” which means “who at the time and moment they are given the faculty of hearing, perceiving and understanding”, “receive the word” or “get, take upon themselves, sustain, bear and approve the speech, decree, mandate and order of God” “with joy” which means “with gladness, cheerfulness and calm delight”. Luke shared how Jesus said the “seed” scattered upon the “rock” referred to people who initially “approve” “the word of God” or His “gospel” with “cheerful and joyful” hearts.
The verse goes on to say, “and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.” Luke continued with the words “and these have no root” which means “and the seed sown upon the rocky or stony ground do not have depth of sprouts or shoots”, “which for a while” or “who for a certain or due measure of time” “believe” which means “think the word to be true, are persuaded of the word and have confidence in the word”, “and in time of temptation” or “and within a smaller portion, fixed or definite period of trial, proving or testing of their fidelity, integrity, virtue and constancy” “fall away” which means “withdraw, stand off, remove themselves and depart”. Luke shared how Jesus said people who “immediately receive” the word of God but do not “have deep roots” within it depart from the “faith” when “trials” or “periods of testing” come into their lives.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn about people who listen to the word of God, His gospel, and initially gladly “accept” it. However, because they do not have “deep roots” within the “faith”, as soon as a “trial” or “temptation” comes into their life, they fade away. Many people start out well in their relationship with God through His Son Jesus, but then troubles come, disappointments arise or something else replaces their interest and they go away from their faith and trust in Him. God desires an “eternal” and lasting relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and to avoid being like the “seed sown upon rocky ground”, digging deep roots in the word of God will not only avoid “withering” in a person's faith, but will also strengthen the believer to endure the difficulties and troubles which lie ahead.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus told about the seed, “which fell among thorns”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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