Receive with Joy, stand in testing

Luke 8:13 - And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.

Are you the one on the rock? Do you get excited when you hear the Word of God? Do you receive it with joy? I know right, do I get excited when I hear the Word of God. What kind of question is that? Yes I get excited when I hear the Word of God. Who doesn't? That is a very good question and one I hope to be able to write on some time later. What I would like to talk about is receivership, do we receive the Word of God? Not only with joy (excitement) but do we receive it? You may be asking yourself what are you getting at? Let's take a look at the definition of the word receive.

Receive: be given, presented with, or paid (something).

We know that the Word of God has been given, presented to us, we just need to follow through with the last part of this definition. We need to 'take delivery' of the Word of God. In this world I have seen people receive money from lottery winnings, I have seen people receive money from their employment, I have seen people receive a lot of things from a lot of things. Mostly they receive these things in joy, happy to take ownership of this items, goods, or things. Why wouldn't we as children of the Most High God receive the very life source He is given us? Why wouldn't we forsake everything to receive the Word of God with Joy?

My prayer is that we as children of God learn to have ears to hear His Word, that we receive His Word with joy. Through this we develop roots in Christ so when the times of testing come. Which they will come, do not be deceived thinking they will not. But when they come we will not fall away, we will be firmly rooted in our Lord and will be delivered from our afflictions for His glory. Let all those with ears hear what is being said.