There is a lesson to be learned from the humble little raspberry.
I planted a couple of raspberry plants that eventually turned my 30 x 15 foot garden plot into a bramble. I think there were even some little rabbits living there.
This spring we finally decided to clean up the garden area by removing the mass of vines. They were full of sharp thorns and bramble like, coming from everywhere. When we first started to pull them out it seemed to be a daunting task. Oh! Where to start, there are so many; all tangled up.
So one by one we pulled them out and placed them in trash bags. Little by little we progressed forward. Soon we were half way done. Wow! There were a lot but the task was less ponderous now.
We’re done! Doesn’t the garden look so much nicer now. We have room to plant so many different things in it.
BUT Wait! What is this over here in this corner? And wait! Here are some more! Little bitty raspberry plants coming up from the roots. Lot’s of them. There are hundreds of them!
We couldn’t see them before; now they stood out like sore spots before our eyes. So I reached down and gave one a tug. Wow! It came right out; not like the larger stalks which had to be wrestled out of the ground.
So just a little more work and the garden is free of the menacing raspberry. I expect to find a few more stragglers popping up but Not to worry; tug and they will be gone.
So just what does this strange story about the raspberry brambles have to do with anything in my Spiritual walk with Christ?
As we progress with our walk with the Lord things are brought to mind that hinder our complete growth into the person He designed us to be.
The raspberry bramble dominating the garden.
When first confronted by this Spiritual blockage in our walk it can seem dauntingly impossible to handle.
The mass of tangled vines choking each other out.
With God’s help through prayer, meditation, reading His Word, or talking with trusted Christians the task begins to seem much easier to accomplish.
Pulling out just one plant at a time relentlessly until victory becomes evident.
Soon the stronghold upon our lives has been put under the Blood of Jesus and conquered by His love.
The garden is now cleaned out.
Now God reveals other much smaller things that have also taken root in our flesh which need attention. They were previously hidden but now exposed to the pure light of His love.
Look at all the itty bitty plants.
Now our task is easier as we draw closer to God and He draws closer to us. We are becoming more like Him each day. More clean up is needed but our vision is more acute and sharp.
Tug and out they come.
Now we know what to look for and are better prepared to eliminate them from our walk with Christ.
We know there will be more pop up but they soon will be eradicated.
Our continued walk with the Lord will take us higher and higher with Him.
Finally – Put on the whole armor of God . . .
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world’s rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Therefore stand, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness
Eph 6:15 and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
Eph 6:16 Above all, take the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God,
Eph 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching to this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.