DAY 7: Digging Deep

By Ruth Vaccianna (Luke18 Project)

“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” Luke 6:46-49 (NLT)

“The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.” Mark 4:16-17 (NLT)

A few months ago, a friend admonished me about going deeper with the Lord. She challenged me to press further into God’s Word and His presence than at the level I had been accustomed to, growing up in the church. I had reached a point in my walk with the Lord where I knew there was more to be accessed in my relationship with Him, but I was living as though I had already maxed out.

Our lives are like trees and houses before the Lord; for a tree to thrive in the heat of the day and for a house to withstand the floods, the roots must go down deep and a sturdy foundation has to be laid in a deep hole.

In Luke 6, the one who digs deep is the one who comes to Jesus, listens to His teaching, and follows it. Digging deep is mostly in the small things like daily connecting with the Lord through His Word, through prayer and worship.

Like the rich young ruler, we set a cap on how deep we are willing to go for Jesus. The onus is on us; Jesus has already laid out his whole heart before us. Now He waits for a mutual response of wholehearted devotion and affection.

This decision requires intentionality on our part; we have to set our hearts and prepare ourselves to give everything at the feet of Jesus. As the day draws closer to Jesus’ return, it will become more critical to have oil in our lamps; it is no longer enough to just own a lamp, we need oil.

PRAYER POINTS:

• “Lord, forgive me for setting limits on the depth of our relationship. I want to go all in for You. Show me practical ways I can shape my life and daily activities, in a way that will foster deeper knowledge of Your beauty and glory. Lord, let my culture and my lifestyle be geared towards seeking You wholeheartedly. Help me to show my love for You through my obedience and my daily “yes” to the cross You have for me. Lord, I realize there is more in You I can access; I confess that I desire this next level more than anything else. Now give me greater desire and fire. Do it in me and do it in this generation, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”