I’ve always heard that if a Christian concentrates on the DEPTH of his or her spiritual life, a deeper relationship with God … that the Lord Himself would take care of the BREADTH of that person’s outreach.

That’s sort of the same idea today’s Text presents. Luke 8:13, a Parable speaking of sowers and seed and plants, announced of some samples … “These have no root.”

Wow!

Wheat cannot live without a root system, not for long.

Let’s read the next verse in Luke … “And that (seed) which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”

See?

No root … no fruit!

I am no doubt writing to a Christian today who bemoans a fruitless life. You grieve over ineffectiveness! You feel useless.

I think I know the answer, or at least a major part of it.

Go for the DEPTH!

Let your roots grow deeper and deeper into the soil of God’s Word! Into the Blessedness of the Holy Spirit, His Communion.

And as you seek to be better grounded, hence more deeply rooted … I guarantee you (on the authority of God’s Word) … fruit will come!

2 Kings 19:30 captures the idea … “And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.”

As does Proverbs 12:12 … “The root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.”

Here it is in Hosea 9:16, but presented negatively … “Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit.”

An old hymn advised us to go … “DEEPER, DEEPER, INTO THE LOVE OF JESUS!”

Try that!

And fruit will be soon forthcoming!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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