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Seeds
Friday, October 10, 2025 by Rick Stockwell
Seeds
READ Mark 4:1-19
Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
-- Mark 4:4 (NIV)
We had several large trees taken down in our yard that were located close to our house. I raked the ground where the tree had been to remove any remaining woodchips and sawdust, spread topsoil embedded with fertilizer, liberally scattered grass seed on the topsoil, and then used a special tool to embed the seeds deep within the dirt. The next day, as I peeked out the window at my handywork, I was dismayed to see a family of chickadees eating the seeds that were still visible on the surface. Today’s passage immediately came to mind.
Jesus explains this portion of the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:15: “Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.” The path, made hard by constant foot travel, represents the heart of a person deadened by sin. When they hear or read the Word of God, they don’t understand it, and don’t make the effort to figure out what it means. The unseen forces of Satan then discredit the truth the person has been given, preventing the Word from taking hold in the person’s heart.
A spiritually dead person can’t make themselves spiritually alive through human effort. The Holy Spirit must first convict them of sin and draw them to Christ. “… the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you hear his voice, do no harden your hearts ...” (Hebrews 3:7-8a). If the person’s heart is ready, the Holy Spirit will enable them to recognize their need for a savior and to be born again.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Is your heart ready to receive God’s truth?
Prayer: Father in heaven, may our hearts be like good soil, ready to receive your word and bear fruit for your kingdom.
Prayer Focus: FARMERS
Rick Stockwell
Rick Stockwell retired from a career in information technology, teaches Sunday school for first graders, served as an elder at his church, has been married for thirty-five years, and has two children and six grandchildren.
Rick is the author of two novels in his Heavenly Realms series called The Wall and The Battle. Audio, eBook and paperback versions are accessible via this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07HQ8G3MJ
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