“A Sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it” (Luke 8:5).

I want to encourage you to turn in your Bibles this morning and read this parable in its totality; the parable is well-known for the sower, the seed, and the soil. The Sower is the Lord Jesus Christ, and those whom He has called the spread the seed (the Word of God), and the soil is the heart of man, woman, boy, and girl. There is a warning in this passage of us carelessly hearing the Word of God; when we do not fully receive God’s Word (seed). The problem in this parable is not with the seed; the problem is with the soil. There is a domestic factor in the roadside soil. “Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved” (v.12). Think of the distractions during the preached Word of God; think of the movement during the invitation after God’s preached Word. Think about how satan is working to discredit those who are sowing the Word of God in Jesus’ name. satan is doing all he can to distract folks from the seed that is being sown. satan is busy snatching away the seed, discrediting the seed’s authority and fruitfulness in our lives. My friend, our job is to continue to sow the seed and continue to soften hearts with the Word of God. Keep plowing the fields, keep preparing the soil. Paul said, ” I may plant, and Apollos may water, but God will give the increase.” Understand this morning that the farmer does not just show up to their fields and start sowing seed; he prepares the soil. Father, I pray this morning that we would prepare our hearts (soil) to receive the Word (seed). Be Blessed in Jesus’ Name!