“Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” — James 1:21, ESV
Our neighbor decided to till a patch of ground in his backyard to plant a small garden. With food prices rising, it was a practical way to grow his own supply. The soil was turned, the seeds were planted—but the weeds were never pulled.
Soon, the weeds grew taller than the vegetables. In fact, he confused some of them with crops he thought he had planted. By the end of the season, the weeds had choked out nearly all the good growth. Worse, when those weeds went to seed, they spread across the fence line and invaded our yard too. Now we’re battling them right along with him.
That’s exactly what James warns us about. If we let sin, compromise, and unchecked habits take root, they don’t just affect our own hearts—they spill over into the lives of others. God’s Word is powerful seed, able to save our souls, but it can’t flourish in soil overrun with weeds. We must clear the ground and receive His truth with humility.
- Pull the weeds early. Don’t wait until sin grows strong and spreads—confess it, surrender it, and remove it now.
- Know the difference. Just like our neighbor mistook weeds for food, we can easily justify destructive behaviors. Measure everything against Scripture.
- Protect the good growth. God’s Word needs space to grow in you. Guard your heart, stay rooted in Scripture, and let the Spirit bring fruit that lasts.
Weeds left unattended will choke out the life God intends for you—and they’ll spread farther than you think. Clear the ground, plant His Word, and let true growth flourish.
And that’s the mid-week memo.
Steve
