Have you ever been frustrated with the weeds that affect the growth of your plants?
We see these unwanted weeds everywhere, on empty or deserted lots and around our gardens. They just show up without any effort on our part. Yet growing good fruit, vegetables, and beautiful plants take plenty of labor. They require cultivating, nourishment, pruning and lots of care.
A child displays bad behavior without any effort on our part. Yet to develop into a disciple of God, a child needs good nourishment, correction, physical activity, guidance, and lots of care.
Thus, our labor to grow into a disciple of Christ is two-fold.
First, we need to get good nourishment, guidance, and the right care.
And it is not enough to get good nourishment through the Word of God. We need to apply it to our circumstances. Work out our own salvation.
The second part of our labor toward this end is to combat the negative influences around us. Watch and pray.
Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:36 NKJV)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (! Peter 5:8 NKJV)
What do we do with the weeds? We pull them out and throw them in the garbage. On the farm and in the country people also burn them.
What do we do with the negative influences around us? The Bible says:
We are to uproot, pull down, destroy and throw down anything that hinders us or our loved ones from growing as disciples of God. How do we do it?
Obviously not with physical guns and swords or with fire. But with the WORD OF GOD. Using the Word of God, we burn the negative influences.
Sometimes we are faced with an obstacle or a rock blocking our “road.” This requires a few blows of the “hammer” of God to break it into pieces.
Thus, be encouraged and vigilant in your labor for yourself and your family’s spiritual growth. Speak the Word. There is power in the Word of God. But it must be spoken, released to accomplish what the Lord purposed it to do.