Weeds

Have you ever thought about weeds? Weeds, why in the world would I want to think of weeds? Well for one thing weeds creep in undetected and destroy by taking all the nutrients out of the soil, when the plant cannot get what it needs, it dies. The Merriam-Webster meaning is, “a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth; especially: one that tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants …” Weeds will get in the garden and if we are not diligent in pulling them up they will take over.

When we came home from vacation my yard needed weeding. Gardening is not one of my favorite things, but since my husband cannot bend down guess who is doing the weeding. He loves to garden and tinker around the yard, but having back surgery last year and reinjuring his back; he can no longer do one of the jobs he loves.

I was in the side yard pulling weeds when my husband called me. I went to the front of the house and a weed was wrapped around one of our boxwood bushes. I have no idea what it was called but I pulled and pulled and when it finally dislodged it was about five feet long. The weed had a sticky substance on it so it clung to the branches. The weed was not there when we left for vacation ten days earlier.

I came in to wash the residue of the weed from my hands and thought about the danger this weed could do if not taken care of. Sin is like a weed, once it gets in it is very hard to get it out.

Sin starts small, just one little look at an improper picture and before you know it someone is engrossed in pornography. One social drink and maybe the next step is homelessness because all the salary was spent on booze. One toke of grass and the next moment one is a drug addict. A little flirting may become a full blown affair. No one plans to be an alcoholic or a drug addict. Unfortunately it doesn’t “just happen”.

It starts with a choice. We need to choose to do right or do wrong, but in the end we make the choice. A weed starts out very small but before you know it the entire plant is taken over. Sin never ever starts as a big thing but like the weed it grows and grows until it consumes our whole life.

Life is not easy, the Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” He is just waiting for us to make the wrong choice so he can come in for the kill.

We need to know the enemy and his tactics. He is out there and he knows our weak spots. The weak spots are listed in I John 2:16… the lust of the flesh (sensual and impure desires), and the lust of the eyes (appeals to our sight), and the pride of life (boasting, arrogance, pride).

Lately, I have heard of families being destroyed by sin. It did not “just happen”. There was first a falling away from the right things and being drawn to the wrong. Choices, wrong choices, were made and before one knew it the family is being yanked apart.

How can one make the right choices? First, we need to know what the Word of God says. Second, we need to apply what the Word of God says. Is it easy? Absolutely not, but if you pray and ask God He will help you do the right thing.

Verses to help understand the flesh, eyes and pride of life

Flesh

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. James 1:14

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; I Peter 2:11

Eyes

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. Psalm 101:3 

Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. Psalm 119:37 

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Proverbs 3:7 

Pride of life

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:8

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 8:13 

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. Proverbs 21:2 

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 

Gear up for the battle

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:11-12

Neither give place to the devil. Ephesians 4:27 

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  James 4:7-8

Spiritual preparation

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:2 

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11  

Have a blessed day, 
Donna