Protect Our Hearts~

Farming cont…

Several years ago I visited Parrot Jungle, and like everyone else, I bought some parrot food and proceeded to feed the beautiful, talkative birds.  Just before I opened up my pellet-filled palm to a gorgeous red parrot with blue, green, and yellow plumage, I heard an employee say, “These parrots are harmless and fun loving…”

Next thing I knew the bird had eaten all the food and was ferociously clamped down on my knuckle. It hurt like crazy, but what was I going to do? Was I going to scream bloody murder in front of all the little children who were there?  I felt like punching the bird in the beak, but I just shook my hand vigorously slightly whispering, “Ouch! Ouch!” and it flew away.  The employee assured me that, “This has never happened before; he just really liked the food and got a little excited,” and then offered me a little bag of ice.  No need to call the paramedics as there was no bleeding. 

So I kind of know, through my painful experience, how much birds like seeds.  It’s an analogy that God uses in the Bible to describe one of the ways His life-giving Word becomes ineffectual in our lives.   

Luke 8:5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the footpath and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it.”

In verse 12 Jesus explains: “The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.”

God wants us to have a rich, fertile, heart where the seeds of His Word will grow and produce a beautiful, nourishing crop – a crop that will provide every single thing we need to live a blessed life. 

But…

Sometimes our heart is more like a well-traveled footpath.  Everyone and everything has walked all over us and our heart is hardened.  Much like a trampled road, nothing can penetrate it.  The seed that does land there is quickly devoured by the enemy of our souls, and then come the consequences.  No believing, no saving, no nothing…

Birds will always go to where the seeds are; they will flock to them because it’s in their nature.  Likewise, the devil will also do his best to make sure the precious Word is devoured before it can produce any real benefits.

All these verses on the farmer were written to get our attention.  And as we continue in this series, we will end on good news. I promise!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, The most important request we have today is for You to heal our hearts.  Some of us have been through the wringer, and we need You to renew our hope and faith.  Soften our hearts to receive Your Word.  The enemy of our souls does not want us to have peace, but You do.  It starts with prayer!  Protect our hearts. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN~