Pullin' Weeds, Plantin' Seeds
Part I
Introduction:
The Parable of the Soils (Luke 8:4-15) has always interested me, and the lessons I’ve found within it are endless. We all know the seed is the Word of God. Those by the wayside hear the Word, but the devil snatches it away before they believe. Those on the rock receive the Word with joy, but without roots fall away in time of temptation. Those among the thorns (or weeds) hear the Word, but are choked with the cares, riches, and pleasures of this world. And finally, those on good ground with a good and honest heart hear the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit.
As believers, we should strive to bring forth fruit. So, together, I hope we can all learn how to pull some weeds (sin) from our own life and sow precious seed in our hearts and in others.
Devotion:
I thought I wanted a garden so I could go outside and pick a homegrown tomato for my favorite bacon and tomato sandwich. I think God had something else in mind. There are spiritual lessons in having a garden. Here’s the most important one I’ve found so far…
I have finally finished planting everything I intend to plant in my vegetable garden. I have one row of potatoes, onions, carrots, lettuce, green beans, and peppers and two rows of tomato plants. So now I can sit back and watch it grow, right?
Wrong.
There is the minor detail of watering. Without enough nourishment, the plants won’t grow so every day – almost – I water the garden. This is one of my least favorite things about having a garden. Why? It seems never ending.
Sounds a bit like our Christian life, doesn’t it? I think sometimes we think that if we’ve accepted Christ, we can sit back and watch our faith grow.
Like a garden, our Christian life needs water or nourishment through the Word of God and time with our Savior. And that is something that we neglect far too often. We’re either too busy or too lazy. Too tired or too distracted.
Each month, I will issue a challenge to you. If you choose to accept it, I believe it will help you grow spiritually and bring forth fruit. I want to hear from you all when you get victory in your Christian walk so that we can share them (anonymously if you don’t want your name mentioned) and help others along the way.
This Month’s Challenge:
Commit to nourishing your Christian life with daily reading of God’s Word and daily prayer time of at least five minutes. I suggest keeping a journal to record what you've read, what God taught you through the passage, and your prayer requests and/or praises for each day.
Pullin' Weeds, Plantin Seeds
Part II
Last month I wrote that watering was one of my least favorite things about having a garden. Well, the other chore which is even worse is pulling weeds.
Talk about back-breaking work! Weeds, weeds everywhere! But if I ignore them, they will hinder the growth of my plants and flowers.
I planted carrot seeds in my vegetable garden, but it had been years since I’ve seen a carrot leaf or top. As I waited for the carrots to sprout, weeds and grass began to grow too. I didn’t want to start pulling up my carrots! Before I could pull weeds, I had to be able to identify them.
This is important in our Christian life as well. The sin (weeds) in our life needs to be identified and dealt with. If we don’t deal with our sin, we risk allowing it to choke us and hinder our spiritual growth.
It’s easy to pray, “Lord, forgive me for my sins.” We do this because we are either too afraid or lazy to ask God to show us the specific sins in our life. Maybe we are just happy where we are.
This Month’s Challenge:
We know we sin and will admit this generically, but we don’t allow God to show us specific sin that He wants out of our life. This month I challenge you to read I John 1:8-10 and identify five specific sins in your life. And don’t forget to continue reading God’s Word and spending time in prayer. Continue recording what you’ve read, what God taught you through the passage, and your prayer requests and/or praises for each day.
Pullin' Weeds, Plantin Seeds
Part III
Marc had no idea he was going to give me material for this article when he helped me make a new flowerbed in front of my house last spring. He used a hoe to scrap away the grass and weeds. I noticed right away that he hadn’t dug down to the roots, but went ahead and planted my flowers. Days later, weeds and grass popped up all through that flower bed! And I’ve been fighting them ever since!
Last month, we identified some weeds (sin) in our life. Now what? Well, it’s time to get rid of that sin. We must confess it AND repent – turn away from it. In order to do that, we have to get to the root of the problem.
If we don’t get to the root of the problem, the sin will continue to creep into our lives – just as those weeds continue to creep into my flower bed. I have found a fairly good solution, which is far easier than pulling each individual weed and hurts my back a whole lot less. What is it? Weed killer.
As Christians, we have a “weed killer” that can get down to the root and stop sin where it starts—the heart. God’s Word is the most effective tool we have to fight against the sin in our lives. We just have to use it!
This Month’s Challenge:
Memorize a passage of scripture this month, one that applies specifically to you and the sin you struggle with. A few that I have memorized and the reason why… 2 Corinthians 10:5 (thought life), Philippians 4:11 (to be content), Mark 9:23-24 (unbelief), and Philippians 4:6 (worry). My latest—because like most women, I sometimes talk too much—Ephesians 4:29! Also, this month’s scripture challenge is great for those of us who “plan” instead of letting God lead.
Pullin' Weeds, Plantin Seeds
Part IV
The first tomatoes that ripened on my plants looked beautiful – so red, perfectly shaped, just the right size for my bacon tomato sandwich. I excitedly grabbed the first one. Uh-oh! Immediately I knew something was wrong. The tomato, while it looked good from what I could see, was rotten on the bottom! You gardeners know this is blossom rot, something that happens when we get too much water. Anyway, talk about disappointment! My perfect tomato wasn’t perfect at all. My fruit wasn’t good fruit.
You’ve probably figured out where I’m going with this in relationship to our spiritual lives. We may have plenty of fruit and good works in our life. We look good on the outside, but what about the inside?
Here’s an example for you… There was a young woman who decided it was time she teach a Sunday School class. Let’s call her Sally, even though she resembles…ME! Well, Sally expressed her interest in teaching, and the three-year-old class position opened up. At first Sally was committed to her class and took time to prepare lessons and activities for the children. After all, she’d always envisioned herself as a Sunday School teacher, along with all the admiration that went along with it. Being a Sunday School teacher meant, of course, that Sally was a spiritual young woman with a desire to serve the Lord. Over time, Sally found less and less time available to prepare those lessons and activities. This was okay because the three-year-old children really couldn’t tell whether she had prepared or simply read a story from the curriculum book. They didn’t really pay attention anyway. Sally continued with this style of teaching until the Lord began to work in her heart. She started to see that her area of service – teaching Sunday School – meant nothing at all to Him. In fact, it stunk before him. Her motive for teaching had nothing to do with God. Her desire to serve Him did not stem from the opportunity to teach precious children Bible stories that have the potential to shape their futures. And while her ministry looked good on the outside, her heart was rotten and ugly. Sally gave up her teaching position because she realized she herself had a lot of learning to do.
This Month’s Challenge:
Examine your area of service for the Lord. Examine your heart and motive for serving him in this particular way. Is He pleased? Or does it stink before him? If your heart is in the right place, keep on serving Him, ever careful of your motives. If you recognize sin at the heart of your ministry, it is time to evaluate what the Lord would have you to do. Not everyone needs to quit their ministry as Sally did. If Sally had been a more mature Christian, she very well could have made a new commitment to the Lord and the class.
