"Too Shallow"

Matthew 13:20,21

Jesus was explaining to his disciples concerning the parable of the sower. This particular example of the person that received the word into stony ground has, in this preacher's opinion, been perhaps the person that has come and joined our churches after hearing the word. They start out in what one would describe as sprinting their way to heaven, because of the joy they are now experiencing.

We find them practically joining every department possible in the church and going out with the evangelistic teams to tell all who will listen about the Word that changed their life. It is this same person that Jesus describes as, "...when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." This is when we begin to see less and less of the excited convert that was a whirlwind servant hood just days, weeks or months earlier.

These individuals are easily offended because they hadn't allowed the Word to really take root in deep enough soil in their heart. The lack of depth in the time of tribulation and persecution doesn't allow the seed to pull from the soil an adequate amount of nourishment, and it is the lack of nourishment that causes the seed to perish in the heart of the hearer.

So, it is our (seasoned believers) responsibility, as the new converts come and receive the word with joy, to help the seed to take proper root in the heart of the individual by allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us in the tilling of the soil. We must always take care how we till, and allow the Master Gardner guide our hands in the caring of His vineyard.