Scripture to Read: Luke 8:13
The devotion today focuses on the seed that fell on rocky/shallow soil. The seed (God’s Word) grew quickly in this person, but it did not last because the seed did not have a firm root in this person’s heart to be able to live. The soil was too shallow for the Word to form deep roots. Jesus explains in Luke 8:13 that the rocky/shallow soil represents people who hear God’s Word and initially receive God’s Word with great joy. Christians who never dive deep into their intimacy with Christ and His Word remain shallow in their walk and fleshly in their actions. God, through Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, speaks of Christians being “infants in Christ” who never get beyond the “milk” of the Word of God but instead live fleshly. We read in Luke 8 that the person receives the Word joyfully, but their life is shallow in Christ, and they live more by their feelings than by God’s Truth. When the tests and trials of this life come to this person, the Word simply withers away because of their lack of spiritual maturity (Matthew 13:20). But, for growing Christians, God uses the tests, trials, and struggles of this life to strengthen our faith in Him (James 1:2-4). As Christians, if we are pursuing Christ and His Word daily, our faith in Christ will be deep. But, if our life is not deeply rooted in Christ, then the tests, trials, and especially the temptations will pull us away, revealing our spiritual immaturity.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about the rocky/shallow soil?
2. Who will you share Christ with this week knowing they need to be firmly rooted in Him?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!