Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’ ” ‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. ” ‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked. “‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Matthew 13:24-29 NLT
Have you ever had a weed in your yard? How about in a clay pot? Weeds will come up everywhere, just like Jesus was talking about in this story. And, most of us can identify a weed, right?
For me, weeds are not always so easy to spot, and remember, what one person considers a weed, another keeps as a beautiful plant.
In southern Arizona, when there is a good monsoon season one summer, you can expect a bumper crop of weeds the next spring. Weeds will come up everywhere.
So a few years ago, I spent one spring nurturing what I thought was a Martha Washington geranium, a smaller version, but a geranium all the same. It had come up in a pot over the winter, (remember, I live in Tucson, Arizona so the winters aren’t always cold enough to kill plants) and that pot was right beside my original Martha Washington geranium. I watered it, fed it, took very good care of it to help it to grow.
Guess what. It was a weed.
It was a weed that looked so much like the real thing I was fooled. I had spent a great deal of time and energy, encouraging it to grow, but it wasn’t what I thought it was.
Jesus tells us to search, and seek Him. To grow, and learn from Him. There will be many weeds in your world that will try to get you to take care of them or follow them. There will be many weeds in your life, that will try to get you to spend time nurturing them and you forget to take care of yourself. So how do you know if you’re looking at the wrong plant or the true one?
By being in His Word as often as you can. By being in prayer constantly. Ask Jesus if you are spending time with a weed or the one true plant. Notice how much time you are tending your plant and ask if it is promoting Kingdom work or world gratification. He is the one true God and will not lead you astray. He will not be counterfeited, He will not lead you down the wrong garden path.
A small group is essential to learning the Word, see if you can find one to join. If there are none available in your area, consider starting one in your home. Invite your friends, fellow workers and family to join with you as you discover your LORD together!
The weed in the pot?
It’s gone.
I’ll choose a plant I know to be true.
Jesus,
I know your Word is truth. Strengthen me to be in your Word often and place it on my heart. Remind me it is the battle gear I need to be victorious in You. I’m not all that good at memorizing, so please help me find a way to remember your scriptures, so I can think on them and come to live them. Thank you for being with me on this journey and for never giving up on me.
Amen
With The Savior 