Joy in the Hearing

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Time to focus on the how "immediately [the seeds] sprang up…this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy." This is what I call the "I'm- saved-now-what" type of soil. Or to quote Romans 10:17 (ESV), "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."

So, "joy in the hearing" the word of Christ are the first sprouts of faith from this soil/person. After salvation, many people that are this soil type passionately pursue this joy through prayer, Bible study, attending service, fasting and attending small groups – doing the religious acts. Along the way, when faced with tribulation or persecution, this person/soil type becomes bored, apathetic, doubting and may go into crisis/loss of faith.

Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away…As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

-Matthew 13:5-6 & 20-21 (ESV)

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As I see it, this soil type is a person who feels joy in passively hearing the word of God, but has not actively listened and delved deep into understanding Christ/God on a relational level – loving God "with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (See Matthew 22:37 (ESV)). If there is any relationship with Christ/God for this soil type, it is shallow and cannot weather the bad things that occur in life. No matter how long one has been a Christian, if your relationship with the Lord feels or is shallow, then you can still end up being rocky soil in your spiritual life.

It's time to take a look at the depth of your relationship with Christ/God? Do you still find joy at hearing the word of Christ? Why do you feel this way? Do you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind?