Good Habits Build Good Character

One of the areas covered in the "Parable of the Soils" deals with people who lack character within them selves. "These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble." (Mark 4:16-17) Jesus explains this as denoting those who hear the gospel, who receive the Word as something new or pleasing, who appear to be greatly delighted with it, and who are full of zeal for it. Yet they have no root in themselves. They have no resolve that comes with the life changing power of God's Word. They are either not true Christians or they to are mere carnal Christians. Their hearts are not changed. Rather than having the eyes of their understanding open through the revelation of who God is and seeing need for transformation of their heart, when they are tried and persecution comes, they fall as rootless grain that withers from the scorching rays of the noonday sun.  

Though they receive the Word with gladness and things seem to be "going their way" they have no inner strength, they lack the character to resist trials or persecution. They have no real love of the Savior nor the Word of God so when times of trial and persecution are placed in their path, they show that they have no real trust in God, the Word, and therefore immediately, quickly, fall away. The soul has not been convinced of its guilt and depravity because the heart (soil) has not been properly plowed nor the rocks removed. The soil (heart) will work just as hard to make a stone produce as it does a seed. It furnishes the same nutrients to a stone as it does to a seed. But the stone will not produce, because there is no life in it. The stones actually rob the moisture and nutrients from the seed because the soil will give as much time, space, moisture and nutrients to a stone as it will to a seed. Peter tells us, "having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever." (1 Peter 1:23) James tells us to, "...receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21) The Word of God is incorruptible seed and it is full of spirit life. So by removing the stones and sowing the incorruptible seed of God's Word, we change the heart.  

 Although the scripture does not say the seed that is sown on stony ground is one who does not understand God's Word when it is sown, the fact is, unchanged character within believers still comes down to not understanding God's Word. Jesus tells the Sadducees, "...you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God." (Matthew 22:29) Think about this. Ones attitude toward the Word of God, determines the place that God holds in their daily life. Let us not say that God is first in our life when His Word is rarely sown from our mouth. John tells us, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1, 14) God and His Word are One!  

 God's Word should always be understood as the Father speaking to us. It should never be viewed as a message from an ordinary book. It should be as real to us as though Jesus (the Word) stood in the room and spoke to you personally. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "For the Logos of God is a living thing, active and more cutting than any sword with double edge, penetrating to the very division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow scrutinizing the very thoughts and conceptions of the heart. And no created thing is hidden from him; all things lie open and exposed before the eyes of him with whom we have to reckon." (Hebrews 4:12-13 Moffatt) God's Word has power to show what man is. It is like a penetrating sword that lays open and exposes the whole person. This is not to scare people away from God, but to draw them near for the purpose of transforming them into the image of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:18)  

Believers must keep in mind that when they were born again, it was the spirit that was recreated, became a new creation, not the soul (mind, will and emotions) or the body. (2 Corinthians 5:17) This is why the Apostle Paul tells us, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2) Believers are to dedicate their bodies to God and renew their minds. This is a continuous work on the part of every believer and one of the best way to accomplish this is through sowing, speaking, confessing God's Word.   

 So let us give place to the inner work of the Holy Spirit through the confession of the Word of God so that our character is a reflection of our heavenly Father.