Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness. 1st Peter 2:2-3
A little-known fact about me is that I love pulling weeds. There is something so satisfactory about letting my mind rest as I pull weed after weed from the ground. One thing is very clear as I pull weeds: the stronger the weed's root, the harder it is to pull. This makes sense, doesn’t it? Stronger roots naturally make any plant (or weed) stronger and more supported. The same is true in our spiritual lives. If we have shallow roots, we will have a shallow, easily swayed faith. If, on the other hand, we have a deeply rooted faith in Jesus, we will have a deep, steadfast faith that cannot be shaken.
As He told a parable in Luke chapter 8, Jesus emphasized the importance of being deeply rooted in God and His word. This parable is all about a farmer who scattered seeds along his field. Some of the seed, Jesus explained, fell “among rocks” (verse 6). This seed, Jesus explained, “began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture” (verse 6). This seed had potential and started to grow, but because the plant lacked water, it ultimately died. After telling the parable, Jesus explained who the seed that fell on the rocky soil represented. He said, “The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation” (verse 13). These people who Jesus talks about here have shallow hearts and shallow faith. They were excited when they heard the message of hope found in Christ, but now they are not doing anything to cultivate their relationships with God. They do not seek spiritual growth. As a result, when temptations come their way, they ultimately succumb to those temptations because they are not deeply rooted in God and His word.
Our call today is to pursue spiritual growth. As long as we are breathing, there is an opportunity for us to grow. Peter said it this way in 1st Peter 2, “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness” (verses 2-3). Indeed, if we have placed our faith in Christ, we have tasted that kindness of the Lord. We must keep growing, pursuing “spiritual milk” to mature. How do we grow? We spend time with God. We deeply commit ourselves to reading Scripture, praying, and growing in community with other followers. As we grow, we will develop deep roots and will not be swayed by temptation.
Our faith grows as we spend time with God the Father regularly. As you take time to reflect on the Scripture you read today, answer this question you were asked during the weekend message: Are you satisfied with the amount of time you are spending with God each day? After you answer the question, what is one step you can take today toward spending more time with Him? Maybe it is taking time to get alone to pray or to pull out your Study Bible and read the Bible study notes related to the verses in the Going Deeper section. Whatever it looks like today for you, take a step toward growing deep roots and spending more time with your Heavenly Father.
Prayer Prompt: Use this prompt to guide you as you pray.
“God, even though You are the God of the universe, You want to have a relationship with me. I love You for…”
Going Deeper
Luke 8:1-15
1 Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, 2 along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; 3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.
4 One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: 5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
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