One of the best times to pull weeds is in the cool of the evening. In the Garden of Eden, Creator God talked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening. It is a time when we reflect from the event’s from the day. I thought about this as I was working in the garden one evening.
I was weeding an area planted with many different varieties of flower seeds and they were competing for space with the weeds. I had not weeded that row, since it can take up to two weeks for some flower seeds to emerge. I started pulling the weeds that were familiar to me and I was careful not to disturb any that looked like a plant. I was reminded how we need to be careful when caring for others in our lives who are new in their relationship with Jesus. If I would go into that patch of what looked like weeds and just yank them all out, I may loose the very seedlings I am hoping to see mature into beautiful flowers.
You might recognize the connection I was making with the patch of what looked like mostly weeds and looking at someone’s life and thinking about the many negative characteristics visible in a person. It takes time to help someone gently pull out the unfruitful habits. We can help them recognize and identify the intrusive weeds; praying for our weaker brothers and sisters, leading them in repenting and receiving the forgiveness of Jesus. It is often helpful to have a mature and experienced gardener work on that patch of weeds with us. If we are alone we can grow discouraged.
Sometimes the weeds are growing obnoxiously out of control right in front of me. The entrance to the walk was one such area. I kept ignoring them thinking I would get my gloves and pull them without getting my hands dirty.
But this morning, I had enough! Even though I was expecting guests within an hour, I started in on those weeds with a vengence. I didn’t care that my nails were getting dirty because the job was getting done! As I was pulling and yanking, my thought was, “When there are glaring habits that can no longer be ignored, we need to get rid of them in our own lives!” Complaining, impatience, selfishness, just to name a few, grow increasingly obnoxious until there is nothing to do but decide that enough is enough. There are sins that so easily beset us here in this life but as we recognize and identify them we can eliminate them by repenting and receiving the forgiveness of Jesus. Weeds never stop growing but there are ways to decrease their appearance! Sounds like a future post!
Out with the old, in with the new! Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. But the fruit of the Spirirt is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfullness, gentleness, and self control. Galations 5:22-25