I have planted a garden many times through the years. I have learned so many things, and not just about plants and soil. To begin a garden, one must prepare the soil. Once the seeds are planted, you must wait. And wait. Sometimes the weather does not cooperate. It stays too cool too long, or there is no rain. But in the right timing, God sends the heat and rain. It is always a joy to look and see the seeds popping up out of the dirt. But it isn’t usually only the seeds you planted that begin to show themselves. Often times the weeds make their appearance about the same time or shortly thereafter. Then you must begin to really work. This is where you must be careful. Some weeds look an awful lot like the plants you planted. You must be able to recognize your plants. You definitely do not want to uproot one of your precious plants. But on the other hand, you do not want to leave a weed that will steal nutrients and water from your plant! Once the plants begin to grow, you must continually work to keep the area free of weeds. Often times my children would help in the garden. Yes, they complained often! But at the same time, they were learning the difference between a true plant and a weed. I remember my parents teaching me the same thing!
Why say all of that? Working in the garden is a time to think. Once we have Jesus in our hearts and lives, the work begins. That seed has been planted and needs to grow. Sometimes the process seems slow, but through the reading of the Bible and studying it, growth comes. So often things of the world come in and take root, stealing precious nutrients and water that we, as Christians, need to grow. But each and every day we are to read God’s Word to show us what a characteristic of a Christian is truly, and what is really just an attribute of the world. Sometimes they look quite similar – much like the weeds that look an awful lot like the plant you planted in your garden. You need the discernment found only in God’s Word to reveal to you which is which. Once we know what God wants in our lives, we must eliminate the weeds (the things of the world that will steal precious nutrients from us). Once you get the hang of that, it is really pretty simple. But it must be a continual process – each and every day to keep those weeds away. My parents not only taught me the difference between a plant and a weed, they helped me understand the things from the Bible that God was pleased with compared to the things of the world. I have taught my children the same principles, from God’s Word. What better time to share with them than in a quiet time of weeding in a garden?!
Read the following important words of warning: “15. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:15-17.
Thank you for your teachings. This post is a very good analogy of nurturing and protecting our bodies from the weeds of life. I will now hoe the weeds in my garden with a smile on my face as I look upon each vegetable plant as precious family members and brothers and sisters in Christ. I may pick one out to represent my life’s journey and name some of the other plants. Hahahaha
I have yet to purchase your book, but I plan to do so soon.