We Need Root!

“And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.”
(Luke 8:13 ESV)

As I read this verse tonight, I am reminded of my need for dependence on God. This is a scary verse as much as it is an encouraging one. The category described by Christ here are actually like us in many ways:
They hear the Word. They come to church every Sunday. That’s gotta be a commendation! It even gets better; they receive the Word with joy!!!
How many of us receive God’s word with joy? Can Christ commend us as people who rejoice when the word is heard or preached?

Just when I thought nothing could ever go wrong with this category, Jesus drops the bombshell: “But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.”
What!!! Jesus? You mean hearing the word wasn’t enough? And doing so with joy didn’t tick the box?

Well, it didn’t for them and it won’t tick the box for us either. How rooted is your life in God? Sunday Service and Bible Study appearances are not enough.
Sunday Sermons are not enough to resist temptation or fight for joy.
Church attendance is not enough for the day of trial and test of faith.
We need root! We need to sink our root into God; through prayer and His word from a life of absolute obedience and surrender. No other way.

We need God; let’s make our lives all about God or nothing. That way we will stand in the hour of testing, and not fall.

Ponder:
“As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”
(Luke 8:15 ESV)