Spring time. A favorite time of year. Everything begins to bud. Things spring to life. I have found myself with the task of finding a landscaper to come & help with spring clean-up & weekly lawn mowing. The process has caused me to think about one word – WEEDS. Have you ever noticed that they spring up everywhere & anywhere they please? They grow in the most unwanted places.

Dictionary.com gives us this definition of “weeds” :

a valueless plant growing wild, especially one that grows on cultivated ground to the exclusion or injury of the desired crop.

As we go through this Christian life, I do believe we all desire to cultivate those things that please God. We aim to live life in a kind, generous, godly way. We do the things that we know will grow us & change us – we read our Bibles, pray, go to church. But if we are honest, things crop in – the “weeds”. They are those valueless things that, unchecked, will grow wild in our lives. You know…the temper, the gossip, the unkindness, the compromises. Those “weeds” will try to grow in the midst of the cultivated lives we are trying to grow. And here’s the thing…..

We need to let the Gardener tend to our weeds.

The weeds, left to grow, will develop strengthened roots that will go deep into the soil of our hearts & minds. They become more difficult to uproot. They will grow to the exclusion and/or injury of the desire crop. Our own lives will be injured if we leave the weeds be. In Colossians 3, Paul tells us exactly the weeds we need to pull out of our lives, “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” (3:8 NIV). And Paul also tells us what we are to cultivate in our lives, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (3:12 NIV).

I pray today that each of us would be bold & persistent in our weed pulling. It is hard & tedious work, for sure. Endless work. But if we continue to cultivate godliness in our lives, we will lead lives that are productive in every area.

“As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him. Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7 AMP). 

So how are you doing? Have you let the Gardener do His work lately?

I linked with Soli Deo Gloria and Teach Me Tues. and Titus 2sdays and What I Learned This Week and Titus 2 Tuesday and Unite .