“I was working out in the yard yesterday afternoon,” Stan commented one morning. “Digging out some weeds between the rose bushes.”
“Were there many weeds?” I asked.
“Not too many,” Stan replied. “I really try to keep on top of them so they don’t spread. This is something my dad taught me growing up on the farm.”
“The importance of staying ahead of the weeds?”
“That’s it,” Stan replied. “Keep ahead of them and dig them out by the roots so they don’t just grow back.”
“As I’ve mentioned before,” he continued, “my dad was not a believer, but as I have grown in my faith I can see that he taught me some valuable lessons for my faith walk without even knowing it.”
“How so?”
“If I look at the weeds in the flower bed as similar to the weeds of sin in my life,” Stan replied, “I can see how essential it is for me to remove that sin by pulling it up by the roots.”
“By the roots? How do you do that?”
“Dig down,” Stan replied. “Be intentional about it. Don’t just be satisfied with getting rid of the sin weeds on the surface so it looks good for the moment.”
“So this digging down is a choice?” I asked. “Like using a trowel in the flower bed to get to the weed root and dig it out, I need to allow the ‘trowel’ of the Holy Spirit to lead me in digging out the root of the sin that remains in my life. Is that it?”
“I think so,” Stan replied. “It seems to me that the fruit of the Spirit is an excellent way to get to the root of the sin that needs to be dug out. But I have to remember that it’s a choice for me to get myself out of the way so the Holy Spirit can manifest His fruit in and through me.”
“And get rid of the sin?” I said.
“That’s right,” Stan replied. “Roots and all!”
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Bible verses to consider:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is not law. Galatians 5:22-23.
If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your provision for the forgiveness of my sins through the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Thank you for your free and gracious gift of the righteousness of Jesus accepted by faith that will allow me to spend eternity in your presence when it’s time. Thank you, too, for your provision of the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead me in rooting out the sin in my life on this side of eternity. I confess that too often I do not get to the root of my sin by failing to surrender to your power and provision for doing so. Please, Father, help me in following every step of your lead to get to the root of all sinful thoughts, attitudes, and actions that keep me from an ever-deepening relationship with you. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted by faith God’s free and gracious provision of forgiveness through the blood of Jesus so you will spend eternity in His presence when it’s time? If no, why? What is standing in the way of accepting that provision and having the assurance of salvation? If you do have the assurance of salvation, how are you doing with the sinful thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions that remain? Are you digging them out by the roots as well as you would like? As well as God would like? If you sense some changes are needed, how are those changes going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 