Weeds and stones

Today I am weeding. When I was a girl I hated weeding. Who would have ever thought I’d grow up to garden in my spare time? But it is a good way to slow down, and to listen to the Lord.

Because it had just rained, the soil was perfect for weeding. When I was pulling up weeds I had good success as long as there were no rocks in my way. The rocks interfere with my grasp on the weeds, and no matter how I try, I cannot pull the weeds out of the ground. This venture became a picture, illustrating a lesson for me.

I was reminded of a scripture that says to remove the stones from the highway of the Lord so that it will be prepared for people to walk on (Is 62:10). God’s people need sure footing, and on a clear path. Rocks used to be under the road, and now are ground finer to make a subsurface for asphalt to be poured on. We see in these examples that rocks are for support. But a rock on the road could be a cause for stumbling, or a hindrance to the traveler on the road.

To take the example of my weeding adventure further, the rocks interfere with the grasp on weeds, and weeds represent the planting of our enemy, satan. What would hinder us from traveling on the highway of the Lord, except sin in our lives, the love of the world, and pride of life? If the stones prevent us from getting a firm grasp on these things, then how can we yank them out? We need to identify the stones.

Jesus identified one of the stones for us. He had just told His disciples that he was to die and be raised up on the third day. Peter told Jesus “Never Lord . . . This shall never happen to you! Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’" We see from this passage that a rock can represent putting the things of men in the way of the will of God. Paul bears this out when he asks us not to put anything in the way that could cause a brother to stumble . . . “For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” (1 Cor 10:31-33). This illustrates that the “things of man” Jesus mentioned could be our rights, such as the right to eat or drink whatever we want.

If we think of our brother or sister traveling down the highway, keeping their focus on Jesus, it would be good to not let what we do or say hinder them. If they need to pull a weed out of their heart to get to where they are going, then we want them to have a firm grasp on what wrongful thing is growing there. If we put ourselves in the way by saying there is no weed, or that Jesus had victory over all weeds so they cannot possibly grow in our hearts, then we are a hindrance to our brother’s walk in the Lord.

My husband Dave has had a few dreams wherein there were rakes leaning against the wall, ready for use. A rake could remove rocks from my garden. This would be an effective thing to do before the plants break through the ground in the Spring, even if the weeds are growing. If we need a rake so as to remove the rocks and therefore get a firm grasp on the weeds, what is the rake in the room, ready for use? It is the Holy Spirit, clearing debris away. If we listen to Him talk about our attitudes and preferences, He will reveal the stones that would cause others to stumble. If we would give permission for a brother to hold a grudge, or indulge in a lustful activity he will never be able to grasp the “weed” in his heart and will be hindered in his walk with the Lord. But if we want our brother to make it to his destination on the highway of the Lord, we will remove the “things of men”.