Avoid Creating A Wayside

"A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it... And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.' Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved." - Luke 8:5, 9-12 ESV

The Greek word hodos (Strong's G3598) is used in these passages and it is translated 'path'. In the King James Version it is translated 'wayside'. Wayside make it sound like it is outside the field somehow but this Greek word speaks of a road used for commerce that many people travel on.

This soil speaks of demonic influences where the other two don't...

"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. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature." - Luke 8:13-14 ESV

This is interesting to me this morning.

"As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience." - Luke 8:15 ESV

The good soil is free from big rocks, thorns and traffic. When something hard or something new happens in a person's life there is great potential there for words from God to be planted. It is like soil that has been turned over. If people walk all over that area it can ruin it as a place of growth and that would be a shame. That difficult event can soon turn into a fruitful place if there is not too much traffic.

I want to help people but I don't want to walk all over their problems. Walking back and forth isn't going to help. Perhaps we are just there to sow seed, pull some weeds and remove some large rocks but not much else because a fruitful field is the real solution for a person.

Waiting isn't easy. That is why we just keep sowing and watering.

"Happy are you who sow beside all waters, who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free." - Isaiah 32:20 ESV

Yes. We sow the seed, remove a hindrance here and there and God gives the increase.

It might also be a good idea to advise a people to rope that area off also. If they invite to many people in the soil will just get trodden down by other well meaning foot steps.

--