Digging Deep

Sep 11, 2023

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice,

I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

- Jesus, Luke 6:46-49

What is spiritual depth?

According to an article I read, it means different things to different people. Some say it is an emotional experience, where they get moved, and maybe even tear up, over something that was said in a sermon. They might say, “Wow, that was deep.”

Others say that it is an academic exercise, where the teaching must be expository rather than topical in order to be deep.

And even others say it is intellectual information, where they learn something from the original languages or a biblical fact they never knew before.

I would contend that it is all, yet none, of the above. Sure, it is great to be moved emotionally, challenged academically, and learn new information, but it is not how Jesus defines spiritual depth.

In Luke 6:46-49, Jesus tells a parable, a story, about a man who was building a house. In doing so, he dug down deep and laid the foundation on solid rock.

This, my friends, is spiritual depth. It is not how someone moves you or even how someone teaches you, but is, in fact, the work we do on our own to dig deep into the solid rock foundation of Jesus Christ. Yes, it does mean being in church to hear a message of truth, but it also means spending personal time in prayer, in the reading of God’s Word, in the fellowship of other Christ-followers, and time serving others.

It is putting Jesus and His teachings, values, and purpose before all other things, for those other things have no foundation, so when the storms of life come, they will be swept away.

But, the one who digs deep into the solid rock foundation of Jesus Christ (attending church, praying, reading God’s Word, fellowshipping with other believers, and serving others), when the storms of life come – and they will – that individual will not be shaken.