This post is Day 5 in a series of studies about “Joy”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Joy – Day 5

Matthew 13:20

The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.

The Thought

Yesterday we thought about the women who came to the tomb, and saw their sorrow turned to joy. Today I am supposing that these women had heard Jesus refer to joy in some of His messages. What a joy it must have been to sit at His feet and listen to His words of wisdom. Jesus often referred to “joy” when He was talking to His disciples, or to the crowds who followed Him.

The parable of the sower from which the verse today is taken, describes what happens to seeds which fall on different types of ground. Even people who are not gardeners know that rocky ground is not good for growing things. The seeds may begin to germinate, (hence the joy), but they don’t mature because the roots have nowhere to develop. So the joy is short lived.

The Christian world has seen many converts who have joyfully accepted Jesus as Saviour in an evangelistic meeting, but the joy doesn’t last, because these people are not fed from good soil. Becoming a Christian happens in a moment, but growing in wisdom and maturity takes a lot of feeding with “good soil”.

The following verse tells us that “when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.” There have been many times of persecution during the 2000 years of church history, and probably there are more to come. We need to be planted in good soil.

Action

Ask yourself today if your church or Christian group is “good soil”. Are people growing in their faith?

Read Matthew 13:1-23 where Jesus tells this parable, then explains it, and imagine the different types of people described there. Which one are you?

Pray for the Lord’s encouragement today for those new Christians who need to be fed by good teachings.


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