All gardens have weeds and a good gardener must be always looking for them so that his plants and trees will grow well.  The area around plants and trees must be kept clear of weeds to ensure that their feeding roots do not have to compete for water and nutrients.  

     Beware of the weeds; they choke the plants (Mk. 4:19).

     There are two ways to control or kill the weeds.  We can be fellow laborers with our Gardener, pulling them up as He has instructed us through the Spirit and as soon as we see them (Rom. 8:13, I Cor. 3:9), or we can do nothing, and wait for our Gardener to kill them for us (Heb. 12:11). 

     The first way takes the work of prayer and meditation, and at times doesn't seem to be successful.  The second way is always successful.  It may be very painful, but it works for our good, and produces the peaceable fruit of righteousness (Heb. 12:11). If we are not bearing this fruit, our master Gardener may have to cut some of us back once in a while, even to the ground, with nothing left but a stump, if we have neglected our weeding.  But if our root is still good, we will grow again to His glory.   

     Dear Christian, if you feel as though you are being "overworked" (chastised), as some plants (children) do, make sure that you are working to bear the fruit that is most precious to the Lord - love - His love - keeping yourself in the love of God (Jude 21).

     The form or shape of the tree is not as important to the gardener as its fruit.  Love is the one thing necessary (I Cor. 16:22), love for God, as well as man (I Jn. 3:10,14).  

     Our Gardener must produce this fruit in us or we shall die.  

     Ask, seek, and knock, and don't stop until you know that you have it (Matt. 7:7).  "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matt. 7:20).