Deeper and Higher

Matthew 13:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

Matthew 13:18,20,21 God will reveal if and when a person is living a shallow life.

Causes of shallow roots

A shallow experience with God forms shallow roots. This is an individual who has been converted and receives the seed joyfully.

A plant will seek and grow up to the sunlight. What is my interest in the sunlight of God? Roots won’t grow if there isn’t suffcient sunlight.

Mixing eternity with temporal life is a good “soil amendment.”

Matthew 13:21 I can’t assign an issue of root depth (blame) to someone else. If the Word is what is offensive, my roots aren't going deep enough.

Everyone confronts spiritual opposition. What do I do with these moments? I must amend my soil.

Stones underneath the soil are more difficult to remove or easily see. Stones of ideas or opinions may not become apparent until the root is prevented from growing. If my life above ground isn’t producing, I need to look at my life roots and see why.

These stones are not necessarily sin; it can be pride, fear, anxiety, stubbornness, or bad habits. Oftentimes a trusted friend of family member can help me see a stone is affecting my roots and spiritual health. Allow the Word to till the soil. Don't go around the stone.

Persecution

Suffering for the cause of the Word does not always mean severe persecution. Sometimes sadness or upset makes the roots shallow and causes the plant to wither.

Amending the Soil

God samples my soil and, at times, determines I need an amendment of prayer, meditation, reading, or wisdom. When something is revealed to me, what do I do with it?

At times, roots grow shallow because one doesn’t know how to attach to God as a result of a lack of emotional attachments with others.

I don’t always know that there issues in my soil. I need to be able to know myself and be willing to consider if my roots are continuing to grow deeper.