Despite Weeds

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 13:28-30 NLT “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. Let both grow together until the harvest.”

THOUGHT: Yesterday I wrote about the craziness of learning that someone intentionally messed up your lawn by planting weed seed when you weren’t looking. I said it would make my blood boil, but here’s the thing (and thank God!): I’m not God. God’s blood didn’t boil, he didn’t tear up the field and start over, he didn’t go on a warpath to find out where the despicable enemy was hiding and run him through with the sword of the spirit. The only blood that was spilt was his own – the mystery of the three-in-one God — three distinct persons dwelling in complete unity of purpose, and self-sacrifice was the divine purpose.

Something to think about as we try to be more God-like ourselves is that God continues to till soil, plant fields, nourish seedlings, prune, attend to, and lavish attention on the good seed. He plans for and sees ahead to a good harvest. That is such a challenging lesson for me – I’m so quick to rip up impossible fields or let them sit idle out of discouragement.

Finding the good seed growing among the weeds – whether in our own hearts, or the hearts of others – is a labor of agape love. Acknowledging the truth that an enemy has done this, but pressing on despite the weeds? That is the example of our Redeemer God.

PRAYER: Though I can never be you, God, I am called to be like you. To practice your agape love toward good seed and trust the weeds to your plan.