It's a Weedy World...

Matthew 13:24-30 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” Going all the way back to The Fall, there is one thing always present: Weeds. They are a fact of life and constant contention. As we will see in Jesus' explanation, some people are weeds. They allow Satan to rule and reign in their lives, which makes it miserable for everyone around them. They are not necessarily "criminal", but they are a problem. Our first response is often like that of the disciples; "Yank them out!" But that is not our place. We are to cultivate the ground, sow the seed, and bear fruit in the midst of the weeds. We can leave it to Christ and His angels to do the harvesting, and the pulling of the weeds.