By 
I love where I live. It’s only two streets with zero lot line and minimal upkeep. I love that it is gated. If my husband is gone, I feel more secure. If we’re both gone, we feel like our home is safer. But what I love the most is that there is a gardening service included with our Home Owners Association (HOA). All the yards and the gardens and the annual plants are taken care of by experts. I am certainly not an expert.
On a recent trip to our place in Colorado, my husband said the yard needed care—the flower beds had been neglected. So, I said a reluctant yes to lending a hand, as long as he added the know-how. We started in on the weeding. Weeds had infiltrated the gardens and the grass as well.
While working my way across the yard I noticed a few things:
1. Sometimes I couldn’t get the whole root. I could hear my mother saying, “You have to get the whole root or it will just grow back again.” Weeds are crafty. Before you see the leaves on the plant, they have dug themselves in. As you avid gardeners know, if you just pull the top of the weed it will grow again.
Bad habits and temptations are like that. The deceiver knows that if we believe the lie that we can manage our sin, like the deep-rooted weed that very sin will rear up to spoil our spiritual discipline and infect our sanctification. As it took both my husband and I to ensure we got the whole weed, it takes a community of faith to help us root out the sin in our lives: Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many (Hebrews 12:18, NLT).
2. I also noticed some weeds were hard to find in the grass or flower bed because they had grown right up in the middle of a plant. I would finish a section just to look back and see one hiding in the grass or leaves. Weeds resemble plants. Though my husband has tried, I am just not good at plant identification. A flower is a flower is a flower—or is it a weed? As I worked along on my knees I would almost miss the weed growing right up with the “real plants”.
Paul warns of just such a thing in the church—wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15). Have you noticed this in your life? Unfortunately, it can extend to friends and family. Is there someone who seems interested in praying for you, but inevitably prayer time ends in a gossip session? Are there associations on social media that always seem to send you on a path of offense or jealousy or diatribe?
To be the salt and light we are called to be we must be ever diligent to keep salt and light around us. What we give time and attention to are the things we also give power to influence us. Like weeds, seemingly innocent videos, comedians, shows, and movies chosen to divert and relax can be re-orienting our minds and hearts, twisting truth and disbelief of the good our Father means for us.
3. And at times, because the weed had been left too long, a plant was lost in trying to get the intruder out. That pesky weed can do terrible damage to an unsuspecting plant, weakening it so much that it must be pulled with the weed.
As Paul said in his letter to the Colossians:
So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language (3:5-8, NLT).
Bad habits left too long cannot destroy our salvation, but they can destroy relationships and severely set back our walk with Christ. The Holy Spirit, once indwelling the heart, cannot be de-seated; however, we can grieve or resist or quench the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Acts 7:51).
God warned the Israelites about the weeds called idols in their land and their lives. He was very specific about ways for His people to live—how to dress, how to eat, how to interact with neighbors. Adopting the pagan ways to pray or worship would definitely affect their relationship with Him. God knew idols come in unassumingly, innocently; then, like weeds, they dig roots and take control little by little. Idols and pagan practices would infect their hearts and minds and make them believe they could live in their own strength.
On the other hand, what the Israelites allowed in their homes and families could be avenues for worship, for glorifying God, and for attracting others to the one true love and life.
Choose life, God implores in Deuteronomy 30:19. He goes on to say in verse 20: “You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life” (NLT).
How do you choose life? You might have noticed, or experienced yourself, that most gardening must be done on your knees. The life surrendered to Christ must be humbly submitted to Christ as well, not just as Savior but as Lord of your life. In this submission made daily, even hourly, we can have eyes to see the idols lurking like weeds in the world we live in and in our own hearts. Cleave to the One who loved you first and is the only true source of abundant joy in this life and for eternity!
Elizabeth Murphy
Elizabeth Murphy has been following Christ since she was 17. Although this road has not always been straight, she has seen God’s hand in every detour. She is blessed with and by her husband, John, and growing family. As an educator, she has been able to feed her insatiable desire to learn every day and share learning with others. Elizabeth became a student of Womenary in 2016. From the Bible to theology to cozy mysteries, She is always absorbed in reading. This still leaves time for enjoying travel with her husband, walking, old movies, and time with extended family and friends. Elizabeth loves to walk alongside fellow Christ-chasers—learning and laughing through life.
