We all know the dandelion. It’s a pretty flower to children, a nuisance to Dad’s lawn, and an invasive weed to farmers. Now that the weather is warmer, we see them sprouting up just about everywhere. At first glance the dandelion may seem like a beautiful plant—its yellow color attracts the eye, and what kid doesn’t love making wishes on the seeds. They can also be used in medicinal remedies, coffee and root beer, and provide food for certain birds. Nevertheless, don’t be fooled. A dandelion appears harmless, but it is actually a noxious weed that destroys crops.

The Weeds in Our Lives

Dandelions teach us about our faith. These weeds are everywhere and are often overlooked. In the same way, we face negative influences in our everyday lives. These sources of sin look good from the outside, but in reality they are chipping away at our faith. For example, we’ve all had a friend who was fun to be around but caused us to act out of character in ways such as lying to our parents or drinking at a party. This friend was a weed. Like a gardener roots out weeds, we must eradicate sources of sin that are rooted in our lives.

Asking for God’s Help

It isn’t easy weeding out bad influences—sometimes we need God’s help. Even as Christians, we are susceptible to temptation. However, we have a calling to identify what is causing us to fall short of God’s glory and ask God to guide us away from it. We have to figure out what the dandelions are in our lives and weed them out. Psalm 73:26 says, “My body and my heart fail, but God is my heart’s rock and my share forever.” These words remind us that God is with us throughout our struggles and will guide us in our spiritual gardening.

Question of the Day: When have you had to get rid of something?

Talk Topic Scriptures: Psalm 51:1-10; Matthew 5:29-30; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

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