The Sower: Quick to Hear, Fast to Forget

Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.

Mark 4:5-6 ESV

Fast forward, if you will, to Mark’s sixth chapter.

In verse fourteen, we read the account of King Herod seeking to answer an intriguing question of the day, “Who is this Jesus of Nazareth?” After some speculation, we reach verse twenty, which interestingly reports that upon hearing John the Baptist, “he heard him gladly” (Mark 6:20).

We know also from Jesus’ very own words about people like Herod that for awhile they were willing to rejoice in the light, in the truth that John the Baptist brought (John 5:35). Yet these people, who were so quick to rejoice and accept the truth, were not a new phenomena.

Remember those to whom Ezekiel sang “with a beautiful voice” (Ezekiel 33:32), but still would not live according to the truth? Or those who delighted to know God’s ways yet did not live according to them (Isaiah 58:2)?

All of these were the hearts, quick to hear and fast to forget, of shallow soil.

In these hearts the word immediately takes root, and a small shoot of life appears. However, lacking the soil needed for deep roots of belief to weather the drought, growth is stunted.

You see, in order for that root to dig deeply and entrench us in God’s truth, we must live in submission to it God’s word and walk in it.

When we do, we will experience God powerfully at work in our lives.

Are you allowing the root of God’s truth to take hold in your heart? Or are you quick to hear and fast to forget? Pray today for richness and depth of faith.

Today’s devotion by Jordan Loftis, author of The Men With Bare Feet and host of The Bible Better Podcast.