Grass Roots

Thank You God for Poop and Weeds

Mark 4:3-20

"Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed... Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?
‘…Whose eyes are open but don't see a thing,

Whose ears are open but don't understand a word,
Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven.’”

"He continued, "Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way. The farmer plants the Word… The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it. But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it,

…and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams."

The Message Bible
Some verses omitted

Part VI: Grass Roots
(Written last year)

I used to think that weeds had strong roots and are hard to pull out. Then one day I was trying to rip out a patch of grass that had overgrown and was taking over the part of some rock landscaping. I can’t ever remember having to pull out any weed as hard as I tugged on that tuft of grass. I learned that the woven root system of grass looks delicate from the surface, but in reality, it’s extremely tough. In the same way, God’s root in our life is so much stronger than the fleeting distractions that Satan sends our way. Sometimes I find myself discouraged that so many trials pull me away from God, but the reality is that NOTHING can pull us away from the strong grasp of His love. Read Romans 8:31-39 in the Message version (emphasis mine):

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this phases us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

The root of God’s Word is SO strong in our lives, that it will ALWAYS overcome obstacles in its way. God will forever chase us down, wrap us in His arms, and set us right. Weeds can take hold, when the grass is thin, brown, and weak, but when it is thick and deep, gardeners spend much less time pulling weeds, because they simply cannot get in. And on top of that, pulling them out is not usually as hard as we imagine it will be. Have you ever faced a problem only to look back and say, “That was no where near as bad as I thought it would be.”

Here’s another thought: Stomp and kick a weed hard enough, and it will usually die. Stomp and kick on grass with all your might, and it will usually bounce right back again.

Don’t underestimate the power of Christ in your life! God is the essence of love, and 1 Corinthians 13:8, in the NIV version says, “Love never fails.”

Praise Him for that!