Jesus told the parable of a farmer who went out to sow seed in his field.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell on stony places, where there was not much soil.  The seeds germinated and grew quickly because the soil was shallow.  However, when the sun was hot at mid-day, the plants were scorched and withered away and died.  This was because they had no strong roots to draw up water to feed the plants.

I am going to put some of these stones into this bowl of water.   We can see the stones but they are not part of the water.   These stones are like the seed that fell on the stony ground.   Stones are hard like people, who although they hear the word of God and accept it, have no roots of real faith in Jesus.  As a result they only last a short time and when trouble or persecution comes because of being a Christian, they quickly fall away.

However, Jesus went on to tell of good soil where other seed fell and grew and produced a crop, multiplying the seed even up to a hundred times what was sown.  People like this accept the Word of God and ask Jesus to come into their hearts as their Saviour.  They are like this sugar.  When I add it to water and stir it, the sugar becomes part of the water.  In the same way we become part of Jesus and our lives become sweet as His love fills our hearts!

God bless.