My wife planted a yucca plant in our yard. After a few years, we grew tired of its sharp leaves and ugly appearance. “Get rid of it,” she said. So I grabbed my hoe and chopped it down.
A few weeks later, it was back. I chopped it down again. It grew back again. This went on for years. I felt like I was fighting a losing battle against this stubborn plant.
Finally, someone solved the problem for me. He didn’t just cut the top—he dug deep and pulled out all the roots. When the roots were gone, the plant was gone for good.
This story reminds me of what Jesus taught in Matthew 15:19. He says, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.”
Sin too has roots. We can try to fix our bad behavior on the surface. We can promise to do better. We can make rules and resolutions. But unless we deal with the heart—the root of the problem—sin will keep growing back.
Jesus wants to change us from the inside out. He doesn’t just trim our bad habits. He transforms our hearts. When the heart changes, everything else follows.
I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.