How to Put Down Roots

This week I’ll look at the second location where seed was sown in the parable of the sower.  This seed was sown and fell on rocks.  Jesus explained that spiritually this represents people who hear the word of God, receive it with joy, but do not grow roots and at the first sign of trouble resulting from the seeds of the gospel in their lives, they quickly fall away.

We are too self-sufficient when everything is easy.  Pain, trouble and persecution are a test of character.  This kind of person likes the gospel when life is going well, but doesn't have the roots to stick out the hard times.  This results from a lack of Christian growth.  Times of pain and trouble show very clearly a person’s true character and true nature.  As humans we often seek the path of least resistance but we generally learn that many things worth achieving are found only through discipline, sacrifice and hard times.  If we can’t stick out the hard times to let the seeds of the gospel grow in us we’ll never be able to grow to fruitfulness.

To counter the consequences of the seed that falls on the rocks we need to recognize that we have to be moving forward in Christian maturity.  This requires engagement in spiritual disciplines, emotional growth, mental growth and more.  In short we can’t stay where we are and hope that shallow roots will get us through hard times.  Shallow roots are easily destroyed.  We have to put down deep roots that will sustain us through hard times following Jesus.  Roots have to be able to stand strong winds, floods and crazy burrowing animals.  Seek God, persevere, put down deep roots.  It’s worth it.