Weeds

I spent two hours this morning spraying Round Up on every weed I could see (except on the lawns). Here are findings from my experience.

1. Weeds grow anywhere. They were growing in the cracks between sections of concrete, they were growing at the base of the church foundation, they were growing underneath shrubs, they were growing in the parking lot, they were growing in the lawn, they were growing everywhere sunlight and water could access.
2. Pulling weeds is useless. Pull them up Monday and most of them are back within a week. If you really want to get rid of weeds, spray them with Round Up. Poison kills the root.
3. Spraying is detailed work. Unless you hit every weed at its base, unless you spray the poison right into the cracks, unless you apply enough poison, your work is in vain.
4. Weeds are resilient. Areas I sprayed last year needed to be sprayed again this year.

What is true of weeds is true about sin.

1. Sin grows anywhere. It grows at church, at home, at work, when you're by yourself, when you're with friends, when you're least expecting it, where you can't see it, where you said you don't have a problem, where you know you could.
2. Sin management is useless. What you want is victory!
3. Victory requires hard work on your part. Christ's work is finished. Your response is constant. Keep "spraying" (questioning, examining, being honest, repenting, being accountable to others, being watchful). Lack of vigilance steals victory.
4. Sin is relentless. So you got victory today? Great. What about tomorrow? You need fresh victory for fresh temptation. Not only is sin relentless but so is God's grace! While you won't, on this side of glory, eliminate the sin nature, you don't have to remain bound by annoying and dominating sins.