And
other fell on the rocky ground,
where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness
of earth: and when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no
root, it withered away. (Mark 4:5-6)
Sometimes someone will come to a meeting of some kind and
get really excited. They may come a few times or a few years. They get active
and are converted for all appearances. They may even get baptized and have a
testimony. But then they disappear and the next time you see them they are
almost hostile or outright hostile to you and for sure to the idea of following
Jesus.
What happened?
Jesus says “they have no root in themselves.”
(vs :17) In John 15 Jesus says, “I am the true vine and my Father is the
husbandman.” When a branch is grafted to a vine or other plant of any
kind, it gets its nourishment from that parent plant. If I am looking at the
music or the programs or the personalities for my growth, I am looking at
things that cannot give me life. They are like stones that have no nourishment
in them for me. I must be connected to Jesus in love and obedience in order to
be nourished and to grow. Otherwise there is the danger that I will die away.
Enjoy the music, the programs and the people, but first and
always be connected to Jesus and through him to the Father.
I suspect that this has other applications also. Things such
as hobbies or possessions or ambitions about success or happiness can also be
stones that keep me from being rooted in Jesus.
Father in Heaven thank you for helping me see that things in my life
that I look to for gratification or satisfaction can be stones that hinder me
from being properly connected to you. I need grace Oh Father to see this danger
and to keep all of these other things in their proper place. In my heart. Amen.
Than K you so much for this article. The rocks are my attachments that crowd out my hidden life in Him.
ReplyDelete