January 11

Morning

The seeds on rocky ground are those who hear the word and receive it with joy, but they have no root. They believe for a season, but in the time of testing, they fall away. — Luke 8:13 BSB

My soul, examine yourself this morning in light of this text. You have heard the Word with joy; your emotions have been stirred, and a strong impression has been made. But remember, hearing the Word with your ears is one thing, and receiving Jesus into your very soul is quite another. Sometimes outward emotion is paired with inward hardness of heart, and a strong initial response to the Word doesn’t always mean lasting change.

In the parable, some seed fell on rocky ground, where a thin layer of soil covered a hard stone beneath. The seed sprouted, but when it tried to take root, the hard rock blocked its downward growth. As a result, the plant used all its energy to grow upward as much as it could, but without deep roots, it eventually withered. Is this my situation? Have I made an outward show of growth while lacking inner depth? True growth goes both upward and downward at the same time. Am I rooted in true faithfulness and love for Jesus? If my heart is still hardened and untouched by grace, the seed may sprout for a season, but it will ultimately die, for it cannot thrive on a rocky, unbroken, unsanctified heart.

Let me fear a faith that grows quickly but lacks endurance, like Jonah’s vine. Let me carefully count the cost of following Jesus. Above all, let me feel the transforming power of His Holy Spirit so that I may have an enduring, fruitful seed within my soul. If my heart remains as tough as it was before, the heat of trials will scorch my fragile faith, and my hardened heart will only amplify the heat, causing my faith to wither. And my despair will be terrible. Therefore, O heavenly Sower, break up my hard heart, and then plant Your truth in me, so that I may produce a bountiful harvest for You.

Evening

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. — Luke 22:32 BSB

How encouraging it is to think of our Redeemer’s never-ending intercession on our behalf! When we pray, He is pleading for us, and when we aren’t praying, He is still advocating for us, protecting us from dangers we don’t even see. Consider the comforting words He spoke to Peter: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you like wheat, but…” But what? “But go and pray for yourself.” That would have been good advice, but no, it’s not what He said. He didn’t say, “But I will keep you alert, so you will be safe.” That would have been a great blessing, but no, He said, “But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail.”

We have no idea how much we owe to Jesus’s prayers! When we reach heaven and look back on our lives, we’ll praise Him for all the ways He undid the harm Satan was trying to cause. How we will thank Him for continually pointing to His wounds and carrying our names on His heart before the throne!

Before Satan even begins to tempt us, Jesus has already made a plea in heaven for us. Mercy always outruns malice. Notice, He doesn’t say, “Satan has asked to have you.” He stops Satan even at the point of desire, cutting off his schemes before they can fully develop. He doesn’t say, “I have wanted to pray for you.” No, He says, “I have prayed for you—I’ve already done it. I’ve gone before the Father and entered a plea for you before any accusation was made.”

O Jesus, what a comfort it is to know that You have pleaded our case against unseen enemies. You have disrupted their plans and exposed their traps. Here is a cause for joy, gratitude, hope, and confidence!