Weeds

The flowers in the photo on the left grew in my garden one summer. What a vibrant contrast the gaillardia blanket flower is to the purple lavender. What beauty can be cultivated into a backyard garden! Unfortunately, it doesn’t last unless one is diligent in keeping the weeds out. I am not a true gardener. I do not enjoy spending hours in my gardens. I am an artist and I love beauty. I especially love to photograph and paint flowers. I am fascinated by the variety that God has created. So, in a sense my desire for the end result is what motivates me to pull out the weeds. What an abundance of weeds, especially this spring when we’ve had more rain than usual. Some of the weeds grow and spread quite rapidly. Some look like the plants that are growing in my garden. Some are rather persistent and hard to get rid of and then there is a particular weed that is rooted so deep that I can pull with all my strength, but I can’t get it out. I am pretty sure that its roots go all the way to China and are someone’s bonsai plant on that side of the world. I usually hack it off at the base, but the roots are still there and the plant comes back.

So many things in the natural world point to things in the spiritual world or at least remind me of my walk with Jesus Christ. Often, as I am weeding in my garden I am reminded of how sin can be like weeds. It is ugly. It can be invasive. It is destructive. It is also deceptive. If it is not properly dealt with, it will come back. Most definitely, it is NEVER worth it to sin. Just as you wouldn’t plant the seeds of weeds in your garden because of the problem it would produce, we should never willingly go ahead and sin. If you have trusted in Christ and are His child, then the Holy Spirit lives within you. As you submit to the process of sanctification you will look more and more like Christ. Paul implored the Christians in Ephesians chapter 4 to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” In 1 Peter chapter 3, true beauty is referred to as, “the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” 2 Peter, chapter 1 tells us -“His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness.” We are partakers of the “divine nature.” Doesn’t that mean that we have power to overcome! With Jesus Christ living within, we can truly say, “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.”

We can live godly lives! If you are struggling with sin, repent! Ask God to grant you the grace to overcome. Submit to whatever He allows to touch your life. He is good! His purposes are always for good and not for evil. “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11. Don’t let the weeds of sin spoil the garden of your soul. Enjoy the blessings of God. Live for Him! Submit to Him!

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I love Thee because Thou has first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree.
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. (Words by William Featherston)