Rooted in Christ

“Those on the rock are the ones who, when they hear, receive the Word with joy. And these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.” (Luke 8:13)

This is part of the passage where Jesus is explaining to the apostles the different hearts that will, cannot or will not receive the Word of God. This particular heart is on the rocks, a hard place where there is no nourishment, no consolation and no hope. This heart has been disillusioned over and over again and probably at the end of its rope. And just like the sun beats down on the rocks and makes them scorching hot, this heart has been beat down by life and where it is, it will certainly die.

Jesus says that they hear the Word and receive with joy. The Gospel is a lifeline. There’s hope that arises in this heart. They come to church and want to participate in everything. But alas life hasn’t given them an opportunity to grow roots of disciple, persistence, hard work, waiting and trust. They encounter a problem with a brother or sister, a practice or a doctrine and they focus on it instead of the hope they received from the Gospel. Of course, it’s the enemy focusing their eyes on something other than Jesus. They get offended. It’s not only an excuse, but their inability to wait, to persist, to weigh the options or to trust that causes them to bow out. They have been waiting for the other shoe to drop because the hot scorching sun on the rock they live on has taught them that. Instead of solving the situation, they leave. “A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.” (Proverbs 12:3) They are not established, or as Strong’s defines it, not prepared or set up to go through the rigor of discipline that is required to be faithful and persevere in the face of temptation and tribulation.

It's not easy to be a Christian. The tenets of following Christ are discipline and diligence in the simple practices such as prayer, Bible reading, believing and obeying. “The wicked desires the net of evils; but the root of the righteous yields fruit.” (Proverbs 12:12) It’s important where we dig our roots. Is it rooted in this life? Is it in the cares of this world? These are the net of evils. “And these are those being sown among thorns; such as hear the Word, and the cares of this world, and the deceit of riches, and the lust about other things entering in, choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.” (Mark 4:18-19) These passages in Luke and Mark are not only speaking about those hearing the Gospel, but about believers and their roots. There are many believers who are living defeated lives. They are digging roots on rocks and unfertile places where only weeds grow. We need to dig roots where there is life. And life only comes from the Lord.  He is life. “Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6) The one who digs His roots on Life will be blessed, prosperous and victorious. “Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is only in the Law of Jehovah; and in His Law he meditates day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivulets of water that brings forth its fruit in its seasons, and its leaf shall not wither, and all which he does shall be blessed.” (Psalms 1:1-3)

From the very beginning we were created to bear fruit. (Genesis 1:28) Good fruit can only come from roots grounded in God Who is life. It’s not about fame, any gains financially nor in status or social standing. The things of this world do not measure godly fruit, but in our growth in the Lord evident by love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22,23) This fruit is grown in discipline and perseverance in temptations and tribulation rooted and anchored in Jesus.

Summing up, where the heart is anchored results in blessing or cursing, victory or defeat, obedience or rebellion and in life or death. Blessing, victory and obedience come from a heart born of God and surrendered, in spite of the challenges, to the Lord.

Let us pray:

Father God, I thank You that You gave me a new heart, one that follows after You and one that seeks to please You. I ask for help in being diligent in seeking You, continually recognizing that You are with me and I can turn to You at any time and You are there. I trust You Lord to lead and guide me and to correct me when I stray from Your purpose for me. Lord, it is hard to let go of this world. But with Your help through the Holy Spirit, I can grow more in You, for You and in Your purposes. Help me to dig deep roots in Your Word and in obedience so that my fruit may grow abundantly.  In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.