Friday, October 12, 2018


Gorgeous Weeds
By Susan Klein

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”

Driving down the highway, I was struck by a tall vibrant yellow blossom in a field. It was absolutely stunning as it towered above the fading greens and browns of autumn. Returning from my errand, I watched for it again as I neared the same spot. There it was…so majestic as it rose a few feet above the other foliage! Gorgeous as it was, it was still a weed. And the roots below the surface can choke out other plants and take over good ground.

Like the deceptive beauty of the weed in the field, we need to beware of another kind of weed. In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus tells a parable about this. The weeds in this story represent the sons of the evil one. They may take on visually appealing appearance, but their harmful intent is to infiltrate the good plants/the children of God and seek to destroy them. They receive the same rain, sunshine and soil as the rest of the plants, so at first they might go unnoticed. But, as time passes, their differences become evident to the stronger plants, though many of the weaker plants may suffer great harm.

Jude warns us (vs.12) that these weeds will even slip into our worship places unbeknownst to us. They may tout a good message, be very charismatic and charming, but their intent is not to glorify God. “They are godless men, who change the grace of God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ.” (vs. 4) Jude wrote a strong warning to the church body back then, and its message is still relevant today.

We, as the body of Christ, need to be prayerfully discerning about what we see, and hear, and are exposed to. Some messages may sound appealing at first, but have hidden lies below the surface. If we are not strong and healthy plants, we could fall prey to some choking by these weeds.

As the time nears for our Lord to return, this activity will only increase. Jude exhorts, “In the last times, there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires. These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, build yourself up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”

GOING DEEPER:
What condition are your roots in? Are they strong enough to help you stand firm against the weeds?

FURTHER READING:

Susan is married to Mark, and co-leads an in-home small group. She serves as a mentor to young women, and is a member of Oakwood’s Peace Team, helping people work through conflict.