In our last blog post we saw how the birds of the air took the precious seed which represented the word of God.   Jesus then described another hindrance to bearing fruit,

Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil.   And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.  (Mark 4:5-6)

This is not ground that is covered with rocks, rather Jesus was describing the area of Galilee that was covered with a thin layer of dirt over a shelf of limestone.  The seed would quickly come up because of a lack of depth of soil; however, it was too shallow to allow the roots to go deep.  As Jesus explains the parable we see,

In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.  (Mark 4:16-17)

Notice that when affliction or persecution arises they fall away.   The word “fall away” is the word from which we derive our English word scandal and it conveys the idea of causing someone to stumble.  The reason people fall away is not because of the affliction,  other people are able to come through the same affliction.  The reason they fall away is they have no firm root in themselves.  Do your roots go deep?

Psalm 1 depicts a picture of a person with strong roots,

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.  He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams  of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.  (Psalm 1:1-3)

This is a person who is not influenced by the world but rather by God’s word.  As you meditate upon God’s word your roots will go deep and enable you to weather the storms of life.  You will be like a fruitful tree that does not wither in the face of adversity.  The writer of Proverbs reveals the benefits of roots that go deep,

A man will not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will not be moved.  (Proverbs 12:3)

The wicked man desires the booty of evil men, but the root of the righteous yields fruit. (Proverbs 12:12)

 May you not be moved by adversity but rather yield much fruit in your life.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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