Back to the Garden: A 10-Day DevotionalSample

Pest Control

When we think of pests we might automatically think of bugs, wildlife, etc. However, today the pest we are referring to are weeds. A very strategic part of gardening to remember is that if you are not careful with pulling up weeds, you can end up pulling the plant that you've been waiting on out of the ground.

Weeds are sneaky because they almost consciously disguise themselves as the real plant they are cohabitating with! This is why the farmer in this parable told his workers to let the weeds and wheat grow together so that when it’s time for pest control, they can distinguish between the two.

Do you know how devastating it would be if you waited all this time for a harvest and you ended up yanking your plants prematurely? If you haven’t noticed by now, it takes a lot to maintain a garden and the last thing you want to do is start ruining it before you can even reap its benefits.

Jesus told this parable to distinguish the weeds (unbelievers) and wheat (believers) from one another but also remind us that as believers we must live among unbelievers (the field/garden bed) until God comes to judge the world and separate the two from one another. We can also think of weeds as sin because there are temptations all around us and we must not fall into those traps either.

It is so important not to blend in with the world because you will eventually start resembling a weed. As Christians we must be set apart, this is how we handle pest control in our lives. We can live in the world and be amongst unbelievers, but we must also examine ourselves to make sure our motives and hearts are pure and sincere.

Reflect

• What weeds do you need to get rid of in your life?

I encourage you to ask God to search your heart and show you areas where you may be blending in with the world.