"But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away." Matthew 13:6 NKJV
Jesus was discussing the Parable of the Sower and mentioned the fact that part of the ground could have no root. This was quite common in Palestine because there was only a thin layer of soil, probably a few inches deep, over limestone rock. Because there was very little depth or root, the seeds would be easily warmed and germinate very quickly. However, the sun would soon scorch them and they would become withered and die.
This made me think of picture hooks, a job that I had a struggle with recently. Not being a great DIY enthusiast, any type of task such as this can be a recipe for disaster. Initially, I had tried the suction hooks that can be locked on to a flat surface. Some of the hooks stayed on for a few minutes and I was able to hang a few picture frames on to these. However, they were short lived and came crashing down, luckily not breaking the frame. It became necessary to use the type of hook that are knocked into the wall. Now these are ok if you can avoid knocking half of the plaster off in your attempt. I managed it but the frames kept pulling the hooks out of the wall. I suddenly realised, that I would have to go deeper and use a little more precision too. This allowed me to attain more depth and eventually, I had frames hanging on the wall successfully.
We may chuckle at this but unless we go deeper in our spiritual life, rather like the plaster, bits and pieces around us come crashing down. We cannot exist without our lives firmly rooted in Jesus. Many have tried it and many have failed. We cannot manage alone John 15:5. But how do we get deeper into Jesus with all of the hustle and bustle of family and a working life? The answer - discipline. Without this, we are like a yoyo; we go up and down one day flying high, the next down in the depths of despair. We have to get the balance right. Therefore a plan is needed.
Map your day out. You must have a 'quiet time' with Jesus as soon as the day begins. If this means getting up earlier, then so be it. Things must not be neglected however, so getting into a routine is required but, it must be flexible to allow for the unexpected things that come our way. Time with Jesus should be constant, whatever we are doing throughout the day, can be done involving Him - speaking and listening to Him wherever possible. For a busy family, it takes some expert planning but it can be done and is essential to your spiritual welfare.
Therefore, go deeper and become well rooted into Jesus. Don't allow things around you to come crashing down because you have attempted to do something without reaching the correct depth. Get digging!
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard
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