The Path Before You

As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. Matthew 13: 4 & 19 NIV

The parable tells of the sower’s seed falling along the path. The path is where you are walking, where your feet are at the moment. What does Jesus say about this path?

 It was an Accessible Path – Was there not a path for the seed to fall on? Jesus said that as the farmer went out sowing his seed, some fell along the path. The path was in the place where it could receive seed. Is this not true of many people whose ears are able to access the message about the Kingdom of God? Is it not true that the Word of God is able to fall on you, because of where you are? Yes, you are an accessible path, for you are in the way of hearing.

It was an Available Path – Was there not room on the path for the seed? Jesus said that the path received seed, for others could see the seed on the path. Is this not true of many people whose ears have room for the message of the Kingdom, and find a place there? Is it not true that the Word of God is able to find place in you, because you have available space for His Word? Yes, you are an available path, for you have room for hearing.

It was an Amicable Path – Was there not acceptance by the path for seed? Jesus did not say that the path resisted or fought the seed. Is this not true that the ears of many people find the message about the Kingdom to be pleasing, good and acceptable? Isn’t it true that the message of the Kingdom is so pleasing to you that you don’t discard it, or say that it can’t even come near you? Yes, you are an amicable path, for your ears like to hear and are willing to hear the message.

Nevertheless, Jesus speaks a most sad Word about the path. The reality before us is most sobering and even troubling. The very accessible, available and amicable path is also known to the birds, who know exactly when and how to come and get what the path has. Isn't this a fact? You see no birds in sight, but just as you throw some bread on the ground, before you can turn your back, a bird, or perhaps two, swoops down and snatches the bread away.

This is exactly true of the deceiver. As soon as a person hears the message, the deceiver is there. If that person does not understand what he or she hears, this evil opportunist wastes no time in snatching it away from that person. For you to be safe on your path, from the cunning, thieving, opportunity-grabbing deceiver, you must understand the message. Understanding guarantees that God’s Word will remain in you.

Jesus, in His interpretation of the parable, clearly states that the good soil or the good path, is the person, who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Matthew 13: 23.

What is the path before you?

Master, please grant me understanding of this Word that I may not be deceived and lose it all. Amen!