October
5, 2003
SOME
SEED FELL ON STONY PLACES, Part I
"A
sower went out to sow... Some fell on stony places, where
they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang
up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was
up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered
away." (Matthew 13:3, 5, 6, NKJV).
Explaining
the seed that fell "on stony places," Jesus commented,
"But he who received the seed on
stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately
receives it with joy; 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"
(Matthew 13:20, 21).
"It
is not because men receive the word immediately, nor because
they rejoice in it, that they fall away. As soon as Matthew
heard the Saviour's call, immediately he rose up, left all,
and followed [Jesus]. As soon as the divine word comes to
our hearts, God desires us to receive it; and it is right
to accept it with joy. 'Joy shall be
in heaven over one sinner that repenteth' (Luke 15:7).
And there is joy in the soul that believes on Christ. But
those who in the parable are said to receive the word immediately,
do not count the cost. They do not consider what the word
of God requires of them They do not bring it face to face
with all their habits of life, and yield themselves fully
to its control.
"The
roots of the plant strike down deep into the soil, and hidden
from sight nourish the life of the plant. So with the Christian;
it is by the invisible union of the soul with Christ, through
faith, that the spiritual life is nourished. But the stony-ground
hearers depend on self instead of Christ. They trust in their
good works and good impulses, and are strong in their own
righteousness. They are not strong in the Lord, and in the
power of His might. Such a one 'has
no root in himself'; for he is not connected with Christ.
"The
hot summer sun, that strengthens and ripens the hardy grain,
destroys that which has no depth of root. So he who 'has
no root in himself.' --Many
receive the gospel as a way of escape from suffering, rather
than as a deliverance from sin. They rejoice for a season,
for they think that religion will free them from difficulty
and trial... But they faint beneath the fiery test of temptation...
When the word of God points out some cherished sin, or requires
self-denial or sacrifice, they are offended."--Christ's
Object Lessons, pp., 46, 47.
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