The daffodils
and tulips are in bloom, the sun is shining and the breeze is more warm than
cold- it finally feels like we are in spring and heading to summer. Much prefer summer since I don’t generate a
lot of body heat within myself- isn’t it reptiles that are like that? Anyway, there’s something else that is in
full bloom now as well…
dandelions! Woohoo, how exciting,
right? Seriously, they are kind of
pretty when in yellow flower stage, the early leaves are great for salad, and
apparently dandelion root tea is great to help fight some cancer. And how special it is when a young child
picks one for their mom or someone else they love- so precious AND so annoying at the same time.
These nasty
but resilient plants start out small but then grow rather big to spread out
over the grass, shade it so it weakens or dies and they have more water to grow
bigger. It reminds me of the seed sown
among thorns that choke out the growing seed- Word (Lk. 8:7). Of course, they don’t keep their pretty
yellow ‘flower’ because it turns to fluffy seed spreaders all too soon.
 |
| So pretty... right? |
And those which fell among thorns are the ones who,
when they have heard, go forth and are choked with cares and riches and
pleasures of life*, and do not bear to maturity. Lk. 8:14
*-care,
anxiety, distractions {family, jobs, vehicles, bills, technological toys, tv…}
-riches, money, possessions, abundance (of
external possessions) {self explanatory}
-pleasure
or desires for pleasure, sensual delight {sensual means all body pleasures-
drink, food, sex, fantasy, sloth…}
As we can
see, the devil still brings these same things into the lives of Christians
today to try and choke out the Word of God from remaining, growing, becoming
stronger and becoming fruitful in us. The
‘weeds like cares’ want to oppress us with the final goal of killing our
spiritual life- and eternal life if possible.
The ‘weeds like riches and pleasures’ may seem pleasurable and respite
from troubles for a while, but in the end, they choke the spiritual life out of
us leaving us empty and miserable.
So, what am I
going to do with those ‘wonderful’ yellow flowers growing out in my yard? I’m gonna go rip them out at the roots and give
the grass a fighting chance. In my own
life, I’m going to consider setting aside time each week to investigate if I am
allowing any of the above to damage my spiritual life and if found, I will rip
those out too! At the very least- I’ll
do the best I can do and pray that the Lord will rip out those I am not strong
enough to pull, those I missed the roots of and those I don’t even see.
cares-
Therefore I say to you, Do not be anxious for your
life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, what you
shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Mt. 6:25
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything
by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known
to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Php. 4:6,7
riches-
Do not lay up treasures on earth for yourselves,
where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay
up treasures in Heaven for yourselves…
Mt. 6:19,20
And He said to them, Watch and keep yourselves from
covetousness. For a man's life is not in the abundance of the things which he
possesses. Lk. 12:15
pleasures-
For if you live according to the flesh you will die,
but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Rom. 8:13 ESV
But those belonging to Christ have crucified the
flesh with its passions and lusts. Gal. 5:24
because 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.
1Jh. 2:16
Gonna spend some time pulling weeds this week, how about
you?