February 27, 2025
Daily Devotion:
"Hope in The Midst of Despair"
Psalm 42:5
New Living Translation
5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God.
The Parable of the Sower is a popular parable Jesus told that touches on the different states of a person’s heart when they hear the Word. It illustrates this through a sower sowing seeds that fall on different areas along a path. As explained by Jesus, the seed is the Word of God, those along the path are the hearers, and the ground or soil on which the seed falls represents a person’s heart (Luke 8:11-12). You’ll notice that the identity of the farmer or sower is not mentioned. In this context, it is clearly Jesus but the sower could very well be you and I, spreading and proclaiming the Word of God and being fishers of man (Matthew 4:19).
Now, turn your attention to the seed that fell where the soil was shallow. Jesus explains that “the seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away” (Matthew 13:20-21).
How often have you seen new Christians come to the faith with great enthusiasm but after some time, their joy diminishes and they fall away once trouble arises? Enthusiasm may be present upon hearing the Word, but does not always translate to the genuineness of one’s faith. Along the journey, your faith will eventually be tested and put under fire, just as a blacksmith puts metal through fire to refine, mold, and purify it (1 Peter 1:6-7). It is through these trials and tribulations that faith begins to grow and take root for those who endure (James 1:12). Those whose faith is short-lived, hearing the gospel only to respond quickly andsuperficially, may have ulterior motives.
These hearers may believe that Jesus will fix all their worldly problems and make life easier if they accept the Word, never truly counting the cost of following Christ but rather focusing solely on the benefits towards themselves (Matthew 16:24-25). The initial joy, relief, and profound emotional display may convince others of a genuine conversion, causing many to overlook those who’ve been deeply convicted and receive a sense of meekness and quiet gratitude. Time will tell how true one’s faith is, just its fruits (Matthew 7:16-20).
Yes, hardship will come your way. Yes, you’ll experience grief and feelings of God’s absence in your life. Yes, your faith will be put to the test, all of which is for your growth and benefit for what’s to come. From eternity, you’ll look back at your life in the world and understand the “why” that you’ve always been asking. Cultivate a receptive heart that seeks to deeply understand God’s Word, allowing your faith to take root on the foundation that has already been laid through Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 3:11).
