LASTING JOY
The seed sown on rock stands for those who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but have no root; they are believers for a while, but in the time of testing they desert. Luke 8:13, N.E.B.
Today's passage, in which Jesus is explaining a part of the parable of the sower, describes people somewhat like the little girl who was looking forward to going to a birthday party because she had a suspicion it was going to be a surprise party for herself. She discovered when she got there that it was indeed a surprise party. But it was for someone else. Her joy quickly vanished, and sulkingly she left early.
Hearing the word of Christ certainly is a joyful experience! And at first hearing it does appear to be good news--just about me! I am loved. I am forgiven, accepted by God as though I never had sinned. I have a beautiful mansion waiting just for me in a place I certainly will enjoy. I can have my prayers answered, my problems solved, my illnesses cured. No wonder I could enthusiastically embrace such a message!
But something about this type of gospel (as Jesus said) is without root. Though it brings immediate joy, it has no staying power because ultimately the "good news" is not about me. It is about God. The religious experience that is rooted in who He is, has the depth nourishment to keep on growing, the motivations to become more like Him.
Unlike the little girl at the birthday party, however, there is no reason to slink into the darkness, because the celebration of the good news about our God brings showers of good news upon ourselves. When I find Him to be, by His very nature, the Forgiver, guess who gets to be forgiven! When I settle in sure confidence that He is tender and wise, my own life is warmed and guided. But my confidence is rooted in something much greater than my own experiences.
The parable of the sower emphasizes the privilege of the new Christian to move beyond the seedling stage into maturity. The joy of the early believer is not in itself adequate basis for lasting loyalty. Unless we move on to a truly God-centered experience, we are vulnerable to discouragement when the rush of early joy turns placid. Nothing in this universe, however, is more lastingly joyous than to be rooted in Christ Jesus!
The seed sown on rock stands for those who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but have no root; they are believers for a while, but in the time of testing they desert. Luke 8:13, N.E.B.
Today's passage, in which Jesus is explaining a part of the parable of the sower, describes people somewhat like the little girl who was looking forward to going to a birthday party because she had a suspicion it was going to be a surprise party for herself. She discovered when she got there that it was indeed a surprise party. But it was for someone else. Her joy quickly vanished, and sulkingly she left early.
Hearing the word of Christ certainly is a joyful experience! And at first hearing it does appear to be good news--just about me! I am loved. I am forgiven, accepted by God as though I never had sinned. I have a beautiful mansion waiting just for me in a place I certainly will enjoy. I can have my prayers answered, my problems solved, my illnesses cured. No wonder I could enthusiastically embrace such a message!
But something about this type of gospel (as Jesus said) is without root. Though it brings immediate joy, it has no staying power because ultimately the "good news" is not about me. It is about God. The religious experience that is rooted in who He is, has the depth nourishment to keep on growing, the motivations to become more like Him.
Unlike the little girl at the birthday party, however, there is no reason to slink into the darkness, because the celebration of the good news about our God brings showers of good news upon ourselves. When I find Him to be, by His very nature, the Forgiver, guess who gets to be forgiven! When I settle in sure confidence that He is tender and wise, my own life is warmed and guided. But my confidence is rooted in something much greater than my own experiences.
The parable of the sower emphasizes the privilege of the new Christian to move beyond the seedling stage into maturity. The joy of the early believer is not in itself adequate basis for lasting loyalty. Unless we move on to a truly God-centered experience, we are vulnerable to discouragement when the rush of early joy turns placid. Nothing in this universe, however, is more lastingly joyous than to be rooted in Christ Jesus!
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