Meandering - Joy and Laziness

“For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Romans 8:13

The primary task of every follower of Jesus is to tend to the matters of the heart. It is in the garden of the heart where God’s Spirit dwells and looks to walk with us in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8). We have great responsibility to guard our hearts and weed out anything that would hinder our communion with the Lord. Our very words and way of life are but the fruit and actions of what we have allowed to take root in our hearts (Matthew 12:34–35; Matthew 15:18; Luke 6:45).

Joy and laziness do not co-exist well together. Although it is laborious to tackle the tough work of tilling, weeding, mowing, trimming, and pruning in our gardens and on our properties, there is a pure pleasure that is derived from the hard-earned results. We may or may not feel the same way about maintaining our physical properties, but when it comes to maintaining our hearts it is imperative that we roll up our sleeves and root out the sinful weeds that threaten to choke holy, spiritual fruit. I’ve learned that it is easier, and causes less damage, to pull out the weeds when they are tiny sprouts. The longer I procrastinate the more sin can take root and gain strength in my life, robbing me of the joy of the Lord. If we have a hard enough time pulling a weedy sapling, it will be all the more difficult to remove when it’s a well-rooted, burly tree.

“You have plowed iniquity; you have reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way…”(Hosea 10:13) "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you." (Hosea 10:12)

Thanks for Meandering along with me,
Pastor Daniel