“The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.” Matthew 13:20-21
Jesus is explaining a parable He had just told the people. The parable talks about a farmer sowing seeds and where those seeds land and what happens to them. The parable was a reference to how people hear the gospel message of the salvation Jesus provides.
In this part, the seeds fall on rocky ground. If you have ever planted seeds in a large area, you always first want to remove the rocks. Plants need soil in order to survive.
Walk in desert, mountainous areas of New Mexico where there is lots of rock. You may see a small scattering of plants, but very few. Most plants will not survive because of the lack of soil that they can place their roots into. A plant with very shallow roots can easily be pulled up.
In reference to people, these are people who hear the gospel message. They may have heard it in an exciting, pumped up way. The message may have talked about the good of serving God, and all about going to heaven. Their friends suddenly accept Jesus all around them, so they accept also.
No one told them of the troubles that will come with following Jesus. Later when they get ridiculed by others for following Jesus, they quit following Jesus. They cannot handle the pressure. They were not rooted deep enough.
Being rooted deeply, is that you know that you know, that you know Jesus has saved you and is real. There is nothing that can move or change that.
Whether you are a new believer, or one that has been serving God for years, you must be rooted deeply in Jesus. Get into the Bible daily. Stay in prayer constantly. Know Jesus intimately in your life and heart.
When you witness to someone, also, you must let them know that following Jesus may bring on some trouble. Jesus promised trouble, not just good times and heaven. Just like when you sign a contract and read all the fine print, read the Bible and see the truth of what you are doing in following Jesus.
Do not allow yourself or others be easily uprooted.
I pray today that God will make Himself more real to you than ever before; that you will immerse yourself in God’s Word and prayer; that you will have deep roots in Jesus; that God will not allow anything to shake your belief in Jesus; and that God will help you be fruitful and build His kingdom.
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