Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. (Luke 8:13 NIV)
When you plant "seeds" in the lives of those around you, some will "grow" quickly. They will say "yes" to your invitation to church services, small group, or ministry team activities. They will get excited about church, give their life to Christ and even be baptized. Six months later, though, you never see them again. You wonder why and even try to follow-up with an "I miss seeing you around" card. They don't return.
Maybe a year or two later, you run into each other at the store. You do some small talk to catch up with one another, but the entire conversation is uncomfortable. Perhaps you find the courage to ask in the form of a statement. "We miss seeing you at church." Then the reason(s) come out for their lack of attendance. I once had someone tell me, "I don't believe that anymore. The people were nice enough and all that, but it's just not for me." They are like the seed that falls along the rocks.
When this happens, don't be discouraged. Jesus told us it would happen this way. There is more involved than the seed you planted. Your job is not to "succeed" in bringing someone to a life-long relationship with God and His Church. You are called to plant seeds. Keep planting them. Be faithful. Even when some of them never grow and others are a flash in the pan. God sees your faithfulness and smiles.
How about you? Do you continue planting seeds, even when some of them quickly fade away? Do you trust that God sees your faithfulness? Can you see God smile?
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