[Wisdom] is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. (Proverbs 3:18)

After reading today’s scripture (Proverbs 1-3 and Romans 7), I looked out our window into the backyard while meditating on what I had read. And thats when I saw it – creeping charlie! With all the rain we have had, it is growing and thriving. The small lavender flowers are beautiful yet deceiving. It was introduced to this region as a ground cover and it is quite effective as that. Once it has taken hold, it spreads, and if I ignore it, it will easily take over the backyard, overwhelming the grass – and we have invested a lot in that grass.

In Romans 7, Paul describes the nature of sin and how easily it takes hold. He is writing to Jewish Christians who have embraced the Law found in scripture. The Law in and of itself is not sinful, but the insidious nature of sin finds its way into the Law. So that “I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing.”

Like looking out into the backyard this morning, grateful for all the raining and how lush and green the yard looks – only to realize I’ve ignored the creeping charlie and it has taken hold. I don’t need to describe what that looks like in my life or yours. We know. When sin takes hold. “Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it…. What a wretched man I am!” The lavender flowers are so pretty and all I wanted was a lush, green lawn!

Who will rescue me?”Thanks be to God who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” I now know what needs to be done, and through Christ, I am set free to do it. Proverbs calls it Wisdom – God’s gift, God’s presence. Like a tree of life to those who take hold. I can suddenly look at my life and realize that is by the grace of God through Jesus Christ that I am saved. Then take hold of Wisdom and let the grace of God grow.

So, this morning, I am wondering what is growing in my life and what has taken hold of me.