Rootless and Scorched

 

    

Matt 13:3-6

3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow.  4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.  5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.  6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.

NKJV

 

I have seen it, and so have you, if you have been in church for any length of time.  There are always shooting stars.  They come into the congregation, maybe when they have a problem of some sort, they receive Christ and they are on fire. They are there every time the doors open, they are telling people about Jesus, and hungry for the Word.  Everything looks great, then all of a sudden their attendance starts dwindling, and the next thing you know they are back to their old life.  What happened?

 

According to today's verses (v. 5-6) they are those who received the Word but did not have enough soil to put down deep roots.  The rocky places do not allow for much depth or root system.  But there is even more to this:

   

Matt 13:20-21

 

20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;  21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

 

 

As a person in leadership at church, this  is one of the most frustrating phenomena that occurs.  I have even seen people quickly rise to places of leadership, even become ministers, then have this happen.  When hardship or persecution comes, they run and they stumble.  They do not have the "stick-to-it" attitude that ensures success.

 

We all have a flesh to contend with.  For those who have lived a life of sin, there may be more to deal with when they come to Christ.  Obviously a former drug addict will have more baggage and relationship issues to navigate than will a seven year old kid who receives Christ while living in a Godly home.  The power of God is just as effective in either case to help the Christian succeed, but sometimes we allow our dysfunction and the "rocks" of our personality to stunt the growth of our vine.

Christianity is not a guarantee of a smooth sailing, worry-free life.  It is a warfare  and there  will be obstacles to contend with.  But in Christ we have the strength and power to succeed and even thrive.  And on the other side of all of this,  we have a promise of eternity.

 Dear Lord, help me to have deep roots that are not shaken by the storms of life.  Help me to support those who are new in their faith and struggling.  I pray also, Lord Jesus, for the new converts that I know.  Help them to put down a deep root system and not be discouraged.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

Light Loving

 

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense- Jesus Christ, the righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but for the sins of the whole world.  We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:  Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning.  The old command is the message you have heard.  Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.  Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.” I John 2:1-10

“I would love ministry (social work) more if I did not have to deal with people.”  This is a joke that I have heard many people say, with their own adaptions.   The irony being that without people with needs there is no ministry or social work.  But dealing with people is messy business!  People with needs can be angry, rude, hostile and downright aggravating.  The world is full of evil and disrespect which challenges our best intentions and patience.

But can we be brutally honest here?  Non-Christians are not the only aggravating people.  Christians can be just as (if not more) mean and hard to deal with as sinners.  Why is that?  People are just people.  We all have our own set of idiosyncrasies, pet peeves, weaknesses and obnoxious ways.  Our carnal, or natural, disposition leans towards selfishness and unloving traits.

But how can we not love our brother for whom Jesus died, and still love Jesus?  We cannot.  If we love, it keeps us out of darkness and in his light.  As we grumble, criticize and gossip about our brother or sister, we begin a descent onto a dark path.  But as we love and cover over the weaknesses of others, it keeps us in the light. 

Walking in the darkness is a challenge and a hazard.  Living in the country, I am always concerned that I might step on a snake in the darkness.  I am afraid there may be holes, or toys left in the yard that will cause me to twist my ankle and fall.  We can guard against spiritual potholes and snakes by simply remaining in the light in thought and in conversation.

Our words indicate the condition of our heart.  If we are speaking loving words, that is indicative of a heart full of love and light.  If we speak unmercifully, we open our heart and lives to darkness.  That type of darkness does not make the aggravating person stumble.  It causes us to stumble!  It is a foolish thing to turn out the light on ourselves…

Dear Lord, help me walk in love toward my brothers and sisters in Christ.  Help me to remember I am as guilty and unlovely as any of them.  Thank you for your mercy that covers me and help me to walk in mercy toward others.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri