Barbs and thorns

I’ve always hated weeding. 

When I was a kid, I was occasionally given the chore of weeding our garden.  And we had a pretty big garden too. 

The thing my mom taught me was that you had to pull the weeds out by the roots.  If you didn’t, they’d just grow right back. 

Sometimes, though, you could pull out weeds by the roots and more weeds would still pop out somehow.  Have I mentioned I hate weeding?

Well, this was a warning that God gave the Israelites time and again. 

He gave it to them in Exodus. 

He gives it to them again here in Numbers. 

He told them, “Drive out the Canaanites.  Get rid of all their idols and altars, and everything else connected to their religions.” 

And here he says in verse 55,

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides.

They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. (Numbers 33:55)

Sin is the same way. 

If we do not rid ourselves completely of it in our lives, it will become barbs and thorns in our lives.  And eventually it’ll ruin our lives just as it does with anyone who falls prey to it.

There can be no compromise with sin in our lives. 

No root of it can be left in our hearts if we are to live a life pleasing to God. 

Either you pull it out, or it grows right back.

Lord, let me never compromise with sin.  Let me never say, “Well, I’ll just do it this time.” 

Too often, that one time turns into another and another.  

Pull these weeds from my heart.  I want to live a life pleasing to you.  In Jesus’ name, amen.