Satan's Tools

Mark 4:16,
"And these are they likewise which are
sown on stony ground; who, when they
have heard the word, immediately receive
it with gladness;"

MARK 4:13-20

The second type of person Jesus describes is
one who does receive the Word, even with
great joy, but his commitment to the Word is
shallow.
Just as a plant must establish a strong root
system to support its growth, we must
become rooted and grounded in God's Word.

Too much attention on visible growth will
cause us to become impatient and not take
the time to become firmly established in the
truths of God's Word.
This will always result in fruitlessness.

A seed planted in shallow earth will
germinate and grow faster than a seed
planted in deep soil.
The seed in deep soil will put all of its energy
into the roots first while the seed in shallow
soil has no choice but to put its effort into the
growth of the plant above the ground.

The plant in shallow soil will look like it is far
ahead of the other seed for a while, but that
will not last.
It soon withers and dies, while the seed with
roots grows and brings forth fruit.

Notice that afflictions, persecutions, and
tribulations are tools of the devil and are
used to stop God's Word from bearing fruit
in our lives.
They are not good things that God brings
our way to improve us.
They are of Satan.
These things are designed to take our
attention off of God's Word, stopping the
Word from taking root in us.

We must not let anything distract us from
meditating on God's Word day and night,
so then will we make our way prosperous
and have good success (Joshua 1:8).

By consistently putting God's Word in first
place in every area of your life, we will let
that Word become so rooted in us that
nothing can get it out.