\u201cThose on the path are the ones who have heard, but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved.\u201d\u00a0 Luke 8:12<\/strong><\/p>\n This familiar story identifies four possible ways in which we hear the Word of God.\u00a0 Some are like a trodden path, some like rocky ground, others like a bed of thorns and some are like rich soil.<\/p>\n In each one of these images, there is a possibility of growth with the Word of God<\/a>.\u00a0 The rich soil is when the Word is received and bears fruit.\u00a0 The seed among thorns is when the Word grows but the fruit is choked off by daily troubles and temptations.\u00a0 The seed sown in the rocky ground results in the Word growing, but ultimately dies off when life gets hard.\u00a0 The first image of seed falling on the path, however, is the least desirable of all.\u00a0 In this case, the seed does not even grow.\u00a0 The earth is so hardened that it can\u2019t sink in.\u00a0 The path itself provides no nourishment whatsoever and, as the passage reveals above, the Devil steals the Word away before it can grow.<\/p>\n Sadly, this \u201cpath\u201d is becoming more and more prevalent in our day and age.\u00a0 In fact, many struggle with actually listening.\u00a0 We may hear, but hearing is not the same as actually listening.\u00a0 We often have much to do, places to go and things to occupy our attention.\u00a0 As a result, it can be difficult for many people to actually receive the Word of God into their hearts where it can grow.<\/p>\n