ROGER’S REFLECTIONS: “Checking for Worms!”
For years when we lived in Omaha, I took great pride in having a well maintained lawn. We fertilized and watered it. We pulled weeds and the result was a beautiful green lawn. One summer I noticed a brown spot in my grass at it gradually sloped down to the sidewalk.
Assuming the problem was lack of water, I began to water that area more. The spot kept growing and I kept watering Finally, I got down on the ground before my yard floated away and pulled up a section of the grass. I discovered worms (actually they were grubs, but it’s my story) eating the roots!
You see, I was treating what I “thought” was the problem (dry grass). But the brown spots on the lawn was only a symptom of a deeper, root problem ( see how I did that, root problem ). The real problem was worms
! Sometimes life is like that. We spend so much time putting out fires in our jobs, school, home, marriage and raising children (who eventually became teenagers and nothing you can do to stop it!) and even in our churches. We become emotionally drained because we not getting to the root of the problem.
Sin is a root problem. It can manifest itself in many ways. For many of us, it’s easier to try to put out fires than to get to the root of the problem. Because confession is good for the soul, I have to confess I did that in my marriage for WAY too many years. Even after I was saved, and worse, in full time ministry!!!
While in many ways our marriage was good, it took me way too long to allow my wife to freely express herself. I was defensive because of insecurities in my heart I had never allowed God to heal. There were certain issues Shirley had to walk on egg shells around me.
My defensiveness was a symptom of a deeper heart issue. Fear of not being “enough.” Not being a perfect husband or father, or a leader!!!) I don’t know about you, but I find there are some lessons that the Lord taught me way back, that I need to be reminded of. The most important lesson is there are no perfect people! I will tell you that I have met several perfect people over the years.
They are NOT fun to be around! But that’s for another time. So if there are no perfect people, why do we spend so much time trying to be something we can never achieve? It will flat wear you out. Secondly, there is a verse we all need to have implanted in our soul.
I John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive our sins and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. ” Is that good news or what! It says He forgives ALL sins, not just some. So quit putting yourself on a self imposed exile because you thought your sin was beyond God’s ability to forgive! He hung the stars in the Heaven’s.
And YOUR problem is to big for Him? Get real. So this week, do a little examination of your heart. Make sure that you don’t have worms! But if you do, call upon the Lord who loves you and forgives you of every confessed sin.
One last suggestion. Don’t go worm hunting in someone else’s yard! Let God kill your worms and live a godly life to everyone around you! Your testimony will speak volumes!
Something to pray about!
