Daily Devotion, October 11, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Matthew 13:24-30.

If you have spent any time on a farm, out in a field or in a garden, you have seen the weeds. (Hey, I’ve got more than a few in my yard!) In certain crops or in a garden, the plants are spread out enough that you can pull up, or chop out, the weeds without doing damage to the plant you want to keep growing. But after a wheat field is far along in the growing season, you can’t pull up any of the weeds without damaging the wheat around it as well. It is another great image of everyday life that Jesus used to illustrate life in the kingdom.

In his Gospel, Matthew includes several stories and images about judgment. He was apparently dealing with a church that had grown lax in their service and faithfulness to God. But he also includes this story from Jesus, reminding Christians (then and now) who tend to want to do some judging of other people’s standing with God.  Making those kinds of judgments are not for any of us to do. Don’t worry about the weeds. God will deal with them when the time comes to do so. Personal Worship Option: Rather than judging others, including enemies, Jesus taught us to love them. What needs to change in your life so that you can better live that teaching?