Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. (Luke 8:11-13)
The Greek word for temptation is peirasmos, and it means “putting to proof or adversity.”
That’s what the enemy will do. As an adversary, he will try to make you prove your faith through difficulties and trials.
Stoney ground believers are quick to shout “amen.” They might claim to have studied and understood the Word.
However, when difficulties come, they quickly let go of God’s Word and fall away from the faith. This is where the “rubber meets the road.”
That’s when you find out if someone is really committed to God or if they’re just putting on a show. Note that Luke 8:13 refers to the time of temptation. There are seasons, or times of visitation in your life, that can be negative or positive.
There are seasons of peace and great blessing, and there are seasons of attack. As believers, we are called to be constant in season and out of season. We should remain faithful when the attacks come and when we are living in peace.
The only way you can do that is to be rooted and grounded in the Word. You find out whether the Word is in your heart, or whether you just mentally ascended to it by how you respond when times of temptation show up. You may have memorized a few Scriptures, but if you only know the verbiage mentally, and it hasn’t grown deep within your heart, you might be a stoney ground believer.
Practical Application
- When temptation comes, how do you respond? Do you jump immediately to the Word? Remind yourself of who you are in Christ? We must have Scripture memorized and embedded deep within us so we can overcome in times of temptation.