Matthew 13
This chapter begins with Jesus teaching the parable of the sower. There are 4 things that can happen once the gospel is given to someone.

1.) The person doesn't fully understand it and Satan comes along and   snatches what was sown in the heart away.

2.) It is received with joy immediately, but it doesn not take root. It is only temporary and when affliction or persecution arises, the person falls away.

3.) The person hears the word, but the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word and it becomes unfruitful.

4.) The person hears the word and understands it and bears fruit.

Many times in my life I have been in all of these situations. It is not necessarily regarding the gospel, but it's regarding my attitude toward situations and circumtances in my life. There were times the Lord has shown me things and Satan did indeed come along and snatch that word away.

There were times I have had a revelation from the Lord regarding a situation and my faith is built up. But when affliction came or persecution arose, I quickly forget about that word from the Lord that he probably sent to help me in that time.

Other times I have let myself get worked up and worried over worldy things and it caused me to be an unfruitful Christian.

But despite all those times of failure, there are more times than I can count that God gives me His Word and I understand it and find myself allowing the Word to change me to where I am bearing fruit for the Lord. It is easy to focus on our failures and to condemn ourselves in times of failure. I used to be a person that thought the worse of myself. But once I discovered my true identity in Christ, it became easier to focus on the blessings rather than the failures in my life.

Jesus continues to speak in parables and once He finished speaking, he left and went to His hometown and began teaching in the synagogue.  What did Jesus find there? He found them to be filled with unbelief and made the statement that a prophet is not excepted in his own town.

Matthew 14
Here we see where John the Baptist is beheaded. What was Jesus' reaction to this? He withdrew and went to a secluded place by Himself.