The Stony Places

"He that receiveth the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended."  Matt 13:20

 “The seed sown upon stony ground finds little depth of soil. The plant springs up quickly, but root cannot penetrate the rock to find nutriment to sustain its growth, and it soon perishes. Many who make a profession of religion are stony-ground hearers.
Like the rock underlying the layer of earth, the selfishness of the natural heart underlies the soil of their good desires and aspirations. The love of self is not subdued. They have not seen the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the heart has not been humbled under a sense of its guilt. This class may be easily convinced, and appear to be bright converts, but they have only a superficial religion." (Book – Chris Object Lesson page 46.3-4}

" It is not because men receive the word immediately, nor because they rejoice in it, that they fall away. As soon as the divine word comes to our hearts, God desires us to receive it; and it is right to accept it with joy. "Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth." Luke 15:7.

"But those who in the parable are said to receive the word immediately do not count the cost. They do not consider what the word of God requires of them. They do not bring it face to face with all their habits of life, and yield themselves fully to its control." (Book – Chris Object Lesson page.46:3-4)

"It is not God that has blinded the eyes of men or harden their hearts. God sends us light to correct our errors and to lead us in safe paths. It is when we reject the light that God sends to us that we are blinded. Then and only then does our heart becomes hardened. Often the process of blindness and the hardening of the heart is a gradual process. Usually not seen; In order for us to avoid this from happening we have to read the word of God, listen to God’s servants as God also sends warning to us through them, and pray often for the Lord to speak to us through the Holy Spirit."

We should not turn our heart away from listening to God’s messengers, nor should we turn away from listening to His Holy Spirit as He speaks to us each day for it is then that we become less sensitive to His words and our spiritual perception becomes numb.

Surrender yourself to Christ daily so that your heart can be in tune with God. When you surrender yourself to God a new power takes control of you, you receive the new heart and God then takes residence there and you are then protected totally from the wicked enemy’s device to destroy you.

Many think that they have to choose the service of the evil one to come under his dominion, this is not true. Only refuse to allow God to dwell in your hearts through faith in His righteousness and you will be overcome by the enemy.  So surrender yourself to Him moment by moment and you shall overcome. Do not be like those who have slighted the invitation of God accept Him today.


Quotes Book - Christ Object Lesson . E.G.White