A few days ago, I planted a new crop of seeds in a new place.  I tilled the fresh ground, making it ready for new growth.  I was so hopeful and expectant! There were no weeds in and around where I planted the seeds.  Perfect! I then protected the seeds with mulch, placed around them.  I watered and waited.  I’m impatient.  I actually expected to see change in day or two!  Then heavy rains came to our area.  The steady rain didn’t hurt the seeds or wash them away as feared.  Instead, the rain provided quick growth to the seeds who grew into tiny plants, clinging together, all in a row like soldiers.  I was thrilled to see their progress as if I had anything to do with it!  God provided the soil, the seeds and the rain.  I just planted them.

The rains also spurred the growth of weeds!  Ugh, where did they come from?  They weren’t there before I planted!  Weeds seem to come out of nowhere to choke out and take over the soil that was meant for the beautiful growth of all that is good.  I can pull them out but I have to be careful that I don’t hurt or pull out the baby plant that is trying to grow taller and stronger.  You see, the roots of my plants can get tangled with the root of the weeds!  Frustrating.

In much larger fields, wheat that is planted over miles of acreage, weeds are there, even with the best of pesticides.  The farmer does not take time to pull out the weeds, that would be time wasted and futile because you would most certainly pull out the good with the bad.  So, it is sorted at harvest.

Here in lies the parable of the farmer of our souls, explained simply and perfectly by Jesus… 

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 13:36-43, NLT

Parable of the Wheat and Weeds Explained

³⁶ Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.”

³⁷ Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. ³⁸ The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. ³⁹ The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.

⁴⁰ “Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴² And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

TWO CHOICES

Are we weeds or seeds?  Sometimes we behave in weedy ways.  We don’t like it when we do.  So, we ask ourselves, do we belong to Jesus, or not?  Do we follow what He teaches for our best life?  Do we hear with understanding what He is saying to each one of us?  Do we really believe what we say we believe about God and His Kingdom living really real?  Our daily lives will reflect what is in our hearts.  Every.  Time.  Guard what’s been planted within us.

Friends, in other words, we must guard our hearts of the weeds thrown into our lives by the evil one meant to choke out our faith, hinder our walk and destroy what we have with God—a loving, unconditional, relentless, forever relationship.  Mm, it might be time to do a little “weeding” personally to get rid of what might be trying to choke the life from us.  Be alert to what are weeds and what are growing plants of beauty and grace.

Pray.  Let God do His work in us.  Don’t worry about other weeds growing among the good seeds in the field of the world.  That is not our work as growing plants.  In the end, the Farmer (Jesus) will sort it all out.  For now, the seeds will grow into plants among the weeds and will bear the fruit intended.  The weeds?  Well, they will later be torn away and cast into the fire.

We have only two ways to go as Jesus explained.  One way is life eternal.  The other direction leads to death eternal.  Who do you belong to, right now, at this moment?  We must cling to the Farmer of our souls, as if our lives depended on it, (because they do!), and grow mightily among the weeds until He comes for the final harvest.  Weeds or seeds?  That is the question we must wrestle with daily.

Seed of Promise

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”  (I John 4:4, NIV)

Abba, Father in Heaven,

I’m yours and you are mine.  I cling to you for nourishment.  I need you every hour of every day to help me grow into who you intended for me to be.  Not a weed, but a growing plant of your love, mercy and grace that reflects the fruits of Your growing character in this willing heart.  Sometimes, weeds try to entangle me.  Prune all that is not right and good and make me holy before you.  Then help me to live upright among the weeds until you come to harvest.  My life goal is you.  Teach me and I will grow in your ways.

In Jesus Name, Amen