We were out in the garden the other evening and our youngest said he had a hard time telling the difference between which were the plants and which were the weeds. I explained to him that the more I garden and the more time I spend observing and cultivating, the easier it is tell the difference. 

I couldn’t help but use our walk with Jesus as an illustration. The better I know Him, the more time I spend with Him, the easier it is for me to spot the weeds in my life – fruit bearing plants and weeds no longer look the same. I can spot more easily the distractions from what is Life. I’m not perfect at either one – in gardening or life – but I’m learning. 

This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God. -‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:13-16‬ (msg)