Tim was filled with gratitude and endeavored to show

Real commitment to the King. He wanted Him to know

That he’d follow in the Son’s steps and do what was required

To live his life to please Him. That is what Tim desired.

For all of us who are born-again believers in Jesus, we should have that same attitude. We are committed to the King and want to follow Jesus, doing what He requires while  endeavoring to please Him. It is absolutely the right attitude we need, but to do it takes more: it takes intention, action and endurance. Kind of like gardening.

In my yard, I would estimate that the real plants are outnumbered by the weeds approximately 1,000 to 1. And those are just the ones I can see – after removing the first 100,000 or so! They just keep reproducing! Sometimes it feels like a losing battle. Why won’t they stay gone? Why do they look for every square inch of open ground and then take a yard – my yard? Why do they bother me so much? Well, I at least know the answer to the last question: because it is my yard and they are violating my sacred space!

Hmm… I wonder if God feels that way. Not about my yard, but about His children.

I think we all know that the weed illustration corresponds to sin, and specifically sin that is given a space in our lives. I think it is safe to say that God wants them eradicated, quickly, and before they reproduce. And what happens when we don’t? Yep, give it an inch and it will take the whole yard. God’s sacred space (us) can become overgrown by our neglect of attention as well as our deliberate sin.

So, what we do? Like gardening, tending the fertile ground of our life hidden in Christ takes intentional behavior, intervening action, and endurance to keep on keeping on. And when we find that sin has taken root? Bring it into the light of God’s judgment and then agree with Him that it has no place in His sacred space. Pull it up by the roots and burn it before it burns you!

If not pulled out – roots and all – weeds will sprout up again,

Leaving soil with far more thorns than when you first began.

God isn’t looking to hire gardeners. And thankfully He doesn’t douse us all with weed killer! He wants us to relinquish self-centered behavior and serve Him from a pure heart. What does that look like? Intentionally living according to what He says is true, denying ourselves what feels good in the moment but will cost us in the long run, and then repeat as often as necessary while pressing on in your relationship with the Lord. And don’t forget to thank Him for His commitment: He has good intentions for us. His intervening actions are always right, and, His love endures forever.