The Sower: Angry Birds

And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.

Mark 4:3-4 ESV

When paths are well trodden, their soil is often packed as hard as concrete. Paths form from consistent travel over the same area, and the more they get used the easier they are to traverse.

The path Jesus was speaking of in today’s verse was the tightly packed soil of a human heart and soul.

From this verse we can infer at least two kinds of hearts represented by this soil of the path. Firstly, there are those whose hearts are like a highway, laying common and bare to all. These are people who may have seemingly countless friends but still feel alone because their relationships are all surface level, never penetrating the depths below.

Secondly, we can witness those whose heart’s have been trampled over the course of a lifetime. Who, time and again, are wounded to the point of callousness. The devil, like an angry bird, is very busy above paths like these. When the gospel is spread on them, he is quick to swoop in and carry off the gospel seeds.

Our duty, as sowers and caretakers, is to drive those foul birds away, just as Abram drove them away from his sacrifice (Genesis 15:11).

We should guard those hearts as best we can, and recognize Satan in his work as he seeks to steal the life-giving word sown on hardened and wounded hearts.

Can you think of anyone in your life whose heart’s soil is like that on the path? How can you defend the seed of the Gospel sown on that heart?

Today’s devotion by Jordan Loftis, author of The Men With Bare Feet and host of The Bible Better Podcast.