"He taught them many things by parables" V2 of Mark 4:1-9 NKJV
Let us look at item two of this scripture:
(2) 'Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth. 6 But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.' v5-6.
If we are not careful, our hearts can be like rock. Very little can penetrate. This may be because of past hurts and the damage these hurts have caused. They can be long-lasting. People build walls around themselves, limiting those who are allowed in, and this is not many. They make inner vows along the lines of, 'No one will ever do that to me again.' So there is an inbuilt radar system that appears to send signals to the brain, saying, 'This person can't be trusted.' This may be true but, then again, it can be your refusal to allow people to get too close.
Some people find it difficult to even trust God. The hurt and disappointments have been so devastating that, a hard shell has been formed over the heart. Therefore very few things are allowed to enter in and if they do, there is never any depth to it because the hardness prevents any reasonable root. Initially, the Holy Spirit is allowed in and the person feels full of joy and empowered. Sadly, this is temporary and it soon fizzles out because there is no depth to store this in.
People in the church today are very much like this. They smile and engage in conversation for a short while but, they never become so close to someone, just in case they are hurt. They may have trusted someone very much and then suffered the loss of something, like money for instance. They have have been ripped off. They may also have been promised so much, but it has never happened and they feel let down , rejected and disappointed. There may also have been a painful, failed marriage. Sadly, this can be life and many have been subjected to this kind of thing. You may be one of them.
How can someone find a way through this hard-heartedness? Well the first place to start is with Jesus. People are people and some may rip you off - not many obviously but, they are around. Jesus will never do this to you - NEVER! Jesus actually says:
'As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love' John 15:9. Again in John 17:23 as He was praying to His Father 'I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.' You can't get a more perfect love than this, and Jesus couldn't love you any deeper than He does. You are a special treasure to Him.
Therefore, you now have something to build on. It is now time to get serious about your relationship with Jesus. If you want Him, He is there right inside of you - if you have asked Him into your life? So, forget the past and press on to the future, beginning in the 'Now'. Admit to Him that you have a hard heart towards Him. He knows this already but He still wants you to confess this to Him. Stop trying to run before you have the basics and ask Him to come and forgive you, thrill you, excite you and totally liberate you. If you do this, you are on the way to a deeper walk with Your Friend - Jesus.
More tomorrow!
Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.
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