We see John share a quote from Isaiah that is often mentioned in Jesus’ ministry. In Isaiah, we are told that God will keep people from hearing and seeing. Why? Why did He do this? As United Methodists and Wesleyans, we believe that God desires for everyone to be saved. What does this mean? What is happening here is this. God knows our choice, as the Bible says, those who we foreknew, He predestined (Romans 8:29-30). God knows our choices. Our choices show where we are in this. So our question today is this. Are you listening? Are you looking? Are you allowing the word of God to take root in your life? That’s what it is about. That’s why this is called rooted. May God’s word take root in our lives.

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Good morning! It’s great to be with you this Tuesday. I apologize for not having a Rooted devotional yesterday. Typically, I record these a day or two in advance, but the last 72 hours have been nonstop. I had planned to do it Sunday evening after our Fall Fest at St. Matthews, but that would have meant recording either dressed as a chicken (my costume for the event) or soaking wet from the dunking booth. Neither option seemed ideal, so I decided to skip Monday’s session. I appreciate your understanding, and we’re back on track today and will continue as usual.

This passage echoes what we’ve seen in other gospels where Jesus quotes Isaiah, particularly the idea of God “blinding eyes and hardening hearts.” At first glance, this can be challenging to reconcile with the Christian belief in God’s universal desire for everyone to be saved. As it says elsewhere in scripture, God wishes for all to come to know Him, and we believe in the concept of unlimited atonement—the idea that Christ died for the whole world, not just for some. Christ’s love and sacrifice are available to all, regardless of whether they choose to accept it.

But how do we balance this belief with passages like these, where God appears to intentionally harden hearts? I believe it’s essential to remember that God knows everything, including our future decisions. God’s foreknowledge of our actions does not negate our free will. When Jesus preached, some people had already hardened their hearts—they were unwilling to see or believe the truth, even when it was right in front of them. This is part of human free will: we have the right to choose to accept or reject God’s message.

Sadly, not everyone who hears the gospel will accept it. Some will turn away, ignore it, or choose another path. However, as believers, our role is clear: we should pray for those whose hearts are hardened, asking God to soften them. Prayer is the first and most powerful tool we have in evangelism. Just like the parable of the sower, where the seed falls on different types of soil, we should pray for the soil of people’s hearts to be receptive so that when God’s word is planted, it can take root.

That’s the heart behind this devotional, Rooted—to help the word of God take root in your life and transform you from the inside out. That’s why daily scripture reading is so important. Spending time in God’s word allows it to dwell richly within you and produce lasting change.

John also tells us that even some of the authorities believed in Jesus but were afraid to confess their faith because they valued human glory over God’s glory. This is a warning for us. We must be careful not to seek approval from people at the expense of our relationship with God. As Christian rapper Lecrae says, “If we live for their acceptance, we’ll die from their rejection.” We should strive to live for an audience of One—God. His approval is the only one that truly matters.

It’s easy to get caught up in seeking recognition or success in the eyes of others. But human glory is fleeting. What really counts is living for God’s glory and fulfilling His purpose for our lives. As Paul writes, we are “fools for Christ.” Let’s embrace that and live fully for God, regardless of what others think or say.

Friends, let’s stay deeply rooted in God’s grace and love, living for His glory alone. Thanks for joining me today, and we’ll pick up tomorrow with verse 44. See you then!