Wednesday 9, September 2026

Several years ago, a young lady walked home jauntily from work. It was her first job, and she’d been paid. She happily daydreamed about all she would do with her salary, and nothing perturbed her. On alighting the bus, she wasn’t disappointed that there were no seats available; she was still happy.

Then tragedy struck.

When she reached into her bag to pay her fare, she discovered that the bag had been cut and her entire pay was stolen!

She cried out, and someone warned her to be more careful, as it had been so simple for the thief to steal her money without her noticing. The thief had silenced the crowd (by having the knife), so although some of the passengers witnessed the theft, they were fearful.

Unfortunately, the above-mentioned actually happened. It also offers an interesting perspective on the Parable of the Sower. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

Mark 4:14-15 CEB

[14] The farmer scatters the word.

[15] This is the meaning of the seed that fell on the path: When the word is scattered, and people hear it, right away Satan comes and steals the word that was planted in them.

Unpacking the Parable 1

No sooner had the young lady gotten her paycheck cashed than someone stole everything! She lost her entire salary to the thief as well as some of her next salary, because she had to borrow from others to cover her bills. Being naive, she thought nothing of someone bumping into her on a crowded bus. It was a common occurrence. That time it wasn’t accidental.

There is a sense in which the advice given her was correct – she should have been alert. But the thief was intent on accessing her funds, made visible by the bulky side pocket.

Self-Check

How alert are we in unfamiliar surroundings? How alert are we to spiritual danger?

Digging Deeper

Siblings, the link between the naive employee and the sower’s first seeds is clear. The hard soil made the seed as visible as the bulky side pocket. Before our sower finished scattering the seed, the birds snatched them. It is as though they were waiting for the seeds to fall on the pavement.

In John 10:10, Jesus warns that the thief aims to kill, steal, and destroy. It is no wonder that when the scattered seed landed on the pavement, it was snatched.

Whereas the parable cited the hard path as the soil that lost the seeds, it is also cautionary for us. We need to guard the seed that’s planted on our soil, so that the enemy cannot take it away. David once said that he hid God’s Word in his heart so that he would not sin (see Psalm 119:11). We ought to do likewise. Let’s leave no area of our lives intentionally exposed because of hardened hearts.

As I contemplated the significance of the birds eating the seeds, I thought that unlike the thief, the birds had no use for God’s Word. I remembered, however, that the devil quoted Scripture in Luke 4. If the devil tried to use Scripture to tempt Y’shua, we do not doubt that the same tactic can be used against us. We must know the Word, siblings. But even more importantly, we must, like Jesus, be able to understand and apply the Word.

Not every person who says ‘Lord, Lord’ genuinely represents Y’shua (see Matthew 7:21). The use of scripture doesn’t always mean someone is legitimate. Prophecy and miracles are sometimes counterfeit, and the bearer of false spiritual gifts might have stolen someone else’s scattered seed.

We must be alert and discerning. As God’s Word is scattered in our midst, we need to note what is said and do due diligence for ourselves. That’s what the Bereans of Acts 17 did. We can strengthen ourselves through small group Bible study and prayer. That’s how iron sharpens iron (see Proverbs 27:17).

In this season, may we be committed to guarding ourselves against literal and spiritual theft.

Point to Ponder

Fertile soil can become hardened if starved of water and other nutrients. May our lives remain soft and yielded to God’s Spirit, so that the Living Water continues to keep us receptive to the Word sown within.

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May all we seek be found in Christ