7.5.2020 Weeds
I am sitting at my dining room table and observing my back yard through my big window. From this distance it looks pretty good. The grass is still green because of all the rain that it eagerly drinks up and the sunshine it is determine to revel in. Not bad. However, as I turn to look at the other end of the back yard, I can see a nice, strong, crop of very tall weeds that have just jumped up out of the soil with no warning at all. Where the heck did you all come from?? Weeding is not what I like to do! Some are at the surface of the dirt while others are in deep and strong and fight me to be pulled up and discarded into my lawn waste container.
This is hard work to keep this yard healthy and free, without weeds! It is hard physical labor for me these days and they grow so quickly! I have newly planted plants and trees in my front yard that are stately and well grounded, standing firm and presenting their blossoms in a timely fashion. Magnificence!
I am also aware of the counterfeit. Some weeds have beautiful blossoms on them, making it difficult to determine if they are a flower or a weed. However, I am becoming quite a weed-knower-connoisseur and they are quickly pulled up and discarded. This took me some time to learn. And, I truly must confess that it is a never-ending battle.
So, I am collecting my weapons of warfare - my shovel. my cutters, my spade, and my weed killer spray - to eliminate the enemy of my yard. I am armed and ready and with boldness of intent. I am mindful of how this has a spiritual lesson for me too, the Lord always teaches me through experience.
We are told in Bible scripture in Luke 9:23-25 "Then He (Jesus) said to them all, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet lose, forfeit, his very self.?
Denying self means to give our life over to Christ Jesus 100%, not reserving any part of it for our own understanding or pleasure, trusting in Him and what His Word says over and above what we think or feel. (Romans 10:9-13). We cannot serve two masters effectively.
Matthew 6;24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and the world (man)."
So, we need to take time to do some introflection of our self, checking to see if what we are doing is pleasing to Christ; does it put Him first, does it glorify Him and not self? Does what you do or believe line up with the Word of God? Remember, contrary to some, the Word of God is not outdated. It is your constant and relevant manual for life.
This is like pulling up weeds, spreading weed killer, learning what is a weed or a flower. We have a lot of weeds in our self and sometimes we need help to do this.
Do not be discouraged. Be faithful. Be honest about your life and those things buried deep within you heart, secret things. Remember, you will give yourself away when under pressure or under stress, for out of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34)
Take time to do this soul-searching-weed-pulling so you are healthy in Christ (grass -green is the color of growth) and you are able to reap all his blessings and favors of life. You need to have times of rain (refreshing in Holy Spirit) and times of reveling in Son-shine to grow and be productive. Search out the word of God and what it says to be clean spiritually and to have a clean heart. Don't be afraid to search your heart and motives. Get out your spiritual tools to "pull the weeds" of your life.
Weeds will choke to death if allowed to grow.
Some tools:
1. The Word of God: Psalm 119:105, Matthew 4:4
2. The Name of Jesus Christ: Acts 4:19, John 14:13
3. The Blood of Jesus Christ: Ephesians 1:7, Exodus 12:13
5. Authority in Christ: Luke 10:19, Mark 16:17, Matthew 28:18,
6. Armor of God: Ephesians 6:10-18, 1 Thessalonians 5:8
- Pastor Sandi
www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministries.com
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right (righteous) spirit within me." Psalm 51:10
"Your Word I have hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
Psalm 119:11