On our last Good Soil post, there was talk about having no roots. I wasn’t sure what to post next and realized that we didn’t discuss the rocks from the parable! I was reminded of this as Dane, myself, and the kids went out to the garden area that we have been prepping for next year. Dane had just freshly tilled the ground. All the rocks were exposed, and Dane instructed us to get all the rocks we could out of the ground.

As I was helping the kids, I was stirred to post on this next. Although out of order according to the parable of the Sower, it was awesome timing as we were able to literally do it in our own garden area.

Before I went back to the scriptures,I thought of the reasons why we don’t want rocks in our soil. Rocks create a barrier where roots can’t be deeply established. This was discussed slightly in my last post. However, all I could think of was the fact that rocks cause water to drain quickly in soil. There is no retaining of the water to be sure the seed gets all the moisture it needs to grow. Let us look at the scriptures (remember the synoptic gospels as we compare the parable from Matthew, Mark, and Luke):

Mat 13:5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,

Mat 13:6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.

Mat 13:20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,

Mat 13:21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

Luk 8:6 And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

Luk 8:13 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.

Mar 4:5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil.

Mar 4:6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.

Mar 4:16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy.

Mar 4:17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.

“They had no depth” stood out to me! Another phrase that caught my eye was, “it withered away, because it had no moisture”! The depth reminds me of the being established (settled; fixed), and the moisture reminds me of Jesus being the living water.

And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. -2 Corinthians 1:21-22

 

Rocks cause a hinderance, which produces a lacking that includes, a lacking of nutrients and a lacking of proper water retention. When we allow these “rocks”, other than The Rock, to permeate our hearts, it will cause a lacking in our growth. Not only a lacking, but there takes some work to remove those “rocks” before growth can take place.

The Lord gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us in exposing the “ rocks” in our hearts and in our children’s hearts. As they are exposed, I pray we ask for guidance from Jesus on how to use the Word to encourage us to remove them. That we can be enabled to prepare our children and give them Truth so they too can be equipped to remove them. Whether those rocks be distractions, flesh, the world, temptations, or sin! Whatever is there that is hindering and taking up space that is meant to be prepared for growing so that cultivation can take place. This will enable the roots that are being produced to grow deep and be established to stand strong! When rocks are cleared, the living water can flow in the soil and not quickly pass by but be retained to help nourish growth!!

I find it interesting that the parable states that the seed (Word) was received with joy! That joyfully it was taken in; however, the soil was

not prime and ready for it to take root. That the Word was joyfully heard and accepted; however, the heart wasn’t ready to grow! This makes me think of the scripture:

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. -1 Corinthians 3:7

God deals with the heart and prepares us to be able to grow. The growing comes from walking or living out what God instructs, and this prepares for the the testing. As the scripture states, “But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.” Many will joyfully hear and accept God’s Word; however, God allows the testing so we can see if those seeds took root in Him.

Will we be able to persevere and not simply wither away? When the seed (Word) is thrown to the soil of our hearts, I pray it exposes any rocks that are hindering it from taking root. The rocks can be removed through the sanctifying power of the Truth, by God revealing, the Holy Spirit teaching, and the receiving soil (heart) obeying. That soil has less rocks and is a more prepared soil, that is ready for continued nourishing from the living water from Jesus Christ. He allows us to take the opportunity to retain this water that satisfies, nourishes, and provides growth. By His grace, He gives way for us to be deeply rooted in Him. Again, I will reference the scripture from the last post:

 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so WALK in him, ROOTED and built up in him and established in and the FAITH, just as you were TAUGHT, abounding in thanksgiving. -Colossians 2:6-7

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. -1 Peter 5:10

When the Lord is allowed to work, what is grown cannot be scorched by the sun and wither away. May us as parents be established in Him, and may we pray as we guide our children to trust in the Lord. 

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” -Jeremiah 17:7-8