+DEV+ God and Wheat

Date: June 30, 2010 9:48 PM
Topic: +DEV+ God and Wheat

God and Wheat

"'The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field...his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away'" (Matthew 13:24-25).
Scripture Focus: Matthew 3:8-12

The weed referred to is "bearded darnel," a common grass in the Near East. Before it develops a head, it looks very similar to wheat. The seeds are poisonous if swallowed and can cause dizziness and sometimes death. Darnel grain is lighter and smaller than wheat and is easily blown away with the chaff, so a sieve is used to separate it.

What a fitting metaphor for describing the results of ingesting Satan's plants: those weedy ideas and philosophical constructs that appear sensible, loving and kind, all very similar to Christian ideals-but are poisonous because they do not have Christ, the only way to God (John 14:6), at their root. Sparing people's feelings cannot become our moral compass. Opposing systems are not equally true. Anything that separates us from the love and ultimate sacrifice of Jesus will result in moral disequilibrium and spiritual death. Those who profess love for Christ but refuse to bend the knee in biblical obedience had better watch for the sieve: Wheat is wheat and weeds are not!

Insight: None of us are perfect in understanding. Real fruit comes from self-denial and scriptural obedience. Only then can we truly love everyone.