WADING THROUGH WEEDS

But grow in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. To Him
be the glory, both now and to
the day of eternity. Amen
II Peter 3:18

When we first built our house here in Tennessee, it was discouraging looking out a window and seeing nothing but dirt for a yard. I was grateful with some weeds that grew because they were at least green. I just couldn't foresee any green grass ever covering our surrounding dirt. We had neighbors on both sides of us with nice grass and flowers. I so longed for good old green anything showing up on our dirt. I now marvel at all of the green that surrounds our house. Seeds were planted and fertilizer spread, all done as frequently as called for. It's still not the best but I'll take it.

With the green though, weeds remained. It was as if they had staked their claim early and had no intention of leaving. I must hasten to say that although weeds come with names, their own characteristics and sizes, I have put them all in two categories. Some weeds are beautiful. Many of them can be found on mountain sides. Coming into our town one sees huge drapes of wild vines loaded with wide leaves. I guess they aren't worth much of anything except they grow fast and full, up trees if any are near and even on utility poles and wires. Some may consider them a pest, but they really are pretty serving their own kind of landscape service. No one has to pay any attention to them as they just grow fast and full on their own. They are faithful to return every spring after drying up for the winter months.

The other category of weeds in my opinion are those weeds that are nothing but pests. They take over yards, flower beds, vegetable gardens and rob the soil of nutrients necessary for growing healthy plants. I have pulled some from around my rose bushes that come up with roots a foot long. They don't give up easily, but ruin the areas with their cocky selves. They almost dare you to yank on them. A few years ago, I couldn't picture myself pulling up those precious green things that decorated my dirt, but it's different now.

When you get down to it, weeds are not the desired thing, anywhere whether they are pretty or not. We don't have a “lawn” surrounding our house...we have a “yard.” A yard from a distance when all greened up, mowed and trimmed looks like something we might have spent lots of money on. However, a closer look if you were to walk across our yard, would reveal weeds...weeds of many types and sizes. They do not make for a real lovely lawn, but they seem to fit in, looking like the grass around them. Weeds may give the impression of being lovely, but they are phony where grass is concerned. They take up space where grass should be growing. Most landscapers avoid weeds like the plague.

Along this line, I got to thinking about weeds that can crop up in my own spiritual life. Those weeds take up valuable time and space that detracts from my walk with the Lord. Many of those weeds cropping up in my own life are of my own doing. Satan can't always be blamed for my deliberate actions. If weeds of sin aren't removed immediately, they will grow large, spreading with deep roots. These are weeds you and I need to get rid of. These weeds of sin vary from person to person. What may be a problem for me may not be one for you. Ripping them up may be painful, but any damage can be repaired and we are the better for the purging process.

Guess what? Those very same weeds keep popping back up. I may have a space of time where I am not aggravated by them, but Satan knows my weaknesses and this is where he plays a huge part. What am I to do? I do the same as I do with weeds that keep popping up around my rose bushes. I keep pulling them up and using proper weed killer to keep them at bay as much as possible. Weeds will always make frequent appearances as sin in our lives. We have to keep fighting being in the Word and in prayer. We also must stay alert, never complacent or prideful.

I'm grateful I can look at our yard and see healthy green, but I can see from the porch where some weeds are smugly nestled in with the good stuff. I don't want to be that kind of Christian. I want to be a healthy-grass-Christian and not a grass pretender like weeds are. May we live, grow and thrive for Jesus in every aspect of our lives.

Dear Jesus, I love following You and am so sorry for those times I allow weeds of sin crop up into my life. Thank You for Your consistent love and forgiveness in my life. In Your precious name I pray...Amen