Here to HearSample

DAY 6

Written by Joel Emerson

When I was reading today's passage from Matthew it really hit home with me. Just like many of us, I can find myself being a seed falling onto the rocky ground, causally reading God's Word and “at once receiving it with joy." Isn't that what Jesus wants us to do though? Receive His Word with immediate joy? Well, yes, but the next verse shows what happens when you don't take the time to truly soak into the Word and try to understand and learn it.

If we just casually read the Bible and do not root ourselves, Jesus himself says that we will “last only a short time.” When we do not root ourselves in God's Word like Jesus says: “when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.” Quickly falling away can look like falling back into sin—for example, falling into jealousy, rage, unforgiveness, etc. But falling away can also look like going into a depressive state or a dry season where you feel like the Lord isn't there.

In these past couple of years, like many people, I've been through trouble and persecution, but I didn't know Jesus and know His word as I do now. As I went through the trials and tribulations of this life I found myself falling deeper and deeper with what seemed like no way out. Like a lot of us around the high-school age, I experienced heartbreaks in what seemed to be back-to-back-to-back; it was like I was stuck in this cycle of pain and hurt. When it was all said and done I felt lost, like a piece of me had been taken away. I was left depressed and suicidal. I cried out to God, wanting to know why this was happening to me. I never got those answers, but I tried to get better. I met some new friends, and then I finally met Jesus. I was freed from suicidal temptations on September 3, 2022, and I experienced God's presence like never before. It was then that I decided to finally start really reading the Bible.

Originally, I had no idea where to start so I was just reading in random places; but this time I had a plan, I was going to start with the Gospel of John. I started reading the book of John and for the first time ever I actually started to understand and learn the Word of God and start to soak in it. While my situation didn't get better—I was still going through troubles and persecution—my mind and heart were rooted in the Word and continued to thrive.

When it comes to reading the Bible, we need to actually soak in it and actively try to understand it. So read your Bible, but don't just immediately receive it with joy; also take the time to dwell on it and understand the meaning of what God's Word is saying. This way, you can apply it to your daily life, and when trials and tribulations do come like Jesus says they will (John 16:33) you can thrive and keep going because you are rooted in Christ and His Word.

Pray this prayer with us today:

God, I know that when I'm not rooted in Your Word I will fall away from You. I know that I can't do this on my own, but when I’m rooted in Your Word I will thrive while I am connected to You. Give me understanding when I read Your Word. Help me be rooted in good soil so that I won't fall away when struggle and hard situations come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.