A few weeks
ago, I was helping my brother remove some vines that had overtaken the bushes
outside our driveway. Those things were
tough! Vines have a way of wrapping
themselves around and around bushes, fences, trees, or almost any other standing
object. They grow at a very rapid pace
and will eventually choke out the trees or bushes they have entangled. Pulling out those vines made me think about
life. If we don't catch potentially
harmful actions, thoughts, or habits at the beginning (when they first sprout),
they can eventually grow into big problems in our lives. Take television for example: you might let a
cuss word slip by once in a while without turning it off, then you allow more
and more in until you become calloused to it, and the next thing you know, a
word slips out of your mouth and you wonder why you would say such a
thing. Imagine how other sins and
addictions start entwining themselves into your life and steadily choke out
those moral standards you once held dear.
I think of the parable of the sower in Matthew 13. The sower had some seeds that he was
spreading. "Other seed fell among
thorns, which grew up and choked the plants" (Matt. 13:7). "The one who received the seed that fell
among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life
and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful" (verse
22). Concerning ourselves with the
things of this world can easily keep us away from the things God wants us to
do. When we allow habits, addictions,
worries, or worldly values to control us, we will not be able to pray, witness
to others, or worship God as He has called us to do.
Jesus said,
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every
branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he
prunes so that it will be even more fruitful...no branch can bear fruit by
itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you
remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I
in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:1-2,4-5) So, there is a vine we should allow to
flourish. God uses challenging
situations in our lives to help us grow in Him.
Instead of allowing circumstances or sins to overtake us, we should turn
back to the One we take root in and allow Him to help us bear fruit in those
situations. Here are a few examples of
how people take root in God:
*"His
delight is in the law of the Lord; and on His law he meditates day and night."
(Ps. 1:2)
*"The
fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise."
(Prov. 11:30)
*"But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who
belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and
desires." (Gal. 5:22-24)
Of course, there are plenty of other examples, but part of
taking root in God involves studying these topics on your own. "Be joyful in hope, patient in
affliction, faithful in prayer," study God's Word, and don't allow
yourself to become entangled in the vines of this world!
