S – And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. ¹⁷ And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.

Mark 4:16–17 ESV

O – Commentary:

Judaism valued its heroes of the past who had refused to compromise God’s word, even in the face of death. Jesus’ description of apostasy when persecuted for the message of the kingdom thus might evoke the disciples’ discomfort and self-examination

 Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 138.

A – The phrase “They have no root in themselves” jumps out at me.  They received the word gladly but couldn’t find the inner strength or “mechanism” to make it stick to their lives.  What disciplines do we need to today to keep us aligned with the Word of God and his purposes for our own lives?  We need to examine ourselves and be honest with God.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Word.  Thank you for sowing good seed into our lives.  Empower us to overcome our own lack of discipline and desires that keep us from following you.  We want to seed you give us daily to flourish and grow.