Testing Of The Stony Ground

Let us muse today once again from the parable of the sower and the testing of the stony ground. In Matthew 13:20-21 I find that this ground received the seed with joy an endured for a while. It gave great indication of being the real thing. Oh how many profess Christ in our midst and seemingly receive the word with joy but don’t endure. Let us be careful in baptizing people so quickly when they profess Christ. Some give the illustration of Phillip baptizing his convert on the spot. May I remind us Phillip could fly in the Holy Ghost. He probably had greater discernment than we do. The text tells us when the sun of trials and troubles came because of the word the person was offended. The word offends means to have the feelings hurt. Let us watch the converts to see how they take to hard times before we let them make a public profession. It will be easier to admit they are one of our coverts before the profession than after it.