Day 65: Spiritual Food in Quarantine

When the sun rose, it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots.

I want to single out the seed that fell on stony ground in the parable of the sower. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they were not deeply rooted. This seed refers to those who hear the word of God and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no depth of soil, they last only a short time. When affliction comes, they quickly fall away. The sun, which represents affliction, is an everyday reality that is actually essential to growth. Whether it withers the plant or helps it grow depends not on the sun being there but on the plant having firm roots. Difficulties come. They’re a given. They can either wither us or help us grow. The big difference is how firmly we are rooted in God’s word. So be firmly established on the word and come out of affliction stronger.