Break Up Your Unplowed Ground

It’s that time of year… We tend to follow annual cycles of growth just like a tree which has annual rings. We start the new year off with zest and with many plans, but unfortunately tend to fizzle out by the middle of the year. Let’s not be discouraged and give up hope. Rather, let’s learn how to be more effective by following Biblical counsel. Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you. It’s Time to Take New Turf It’s time to break up your unplowed ground – potentially productive land which is uncultivated and barren. Plowing requires lots of effort and includes removing rocks and stumps, filling dongas etc. Is there barren, uncultivated land in your life? What about the goals you set for 2021? Did you accomplish them? It’s useful to set goals in the different areas of your life: Professional, Financial, Relational, Mental, Spiritual and Physical. I believe that setting spiritual goals is the most important because they deal with eternal things. So, what about breaking new ground spiritually? For example mustering enough courage to share a testimony or to pray out loud in a group or to minister in the gifts of the Holy Spirit or to read through the Bible this year etc. Barren ground could also refer to areas of defeat and strongholds of sin in our lives. Perhaps we should let the Holy Spirit search our hearts. Psa 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Please note that the Holy Spirit does not bring a general sense of failure and condemnation – rather, He points out something specific which is offensive to Him, bringing conviction. At the same time He also supplies the strategy and the grace for us to overcome the problem – He leads us in the way everlasting. It’s Time to Sow Seed The law of sowing and reaping is a universal principle that applies to so many areas of life. E.g. Finances, Diligence, Love, Judging others. This law applies to God’s commands and precepts. Obedience to God’s commands leads to life and blessing. Gal 6:8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. What could, “sow for yourself righteousness” mean? Firstly, I believe it means doing good deeds or acts of righteousness. Gal 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Speaking of the church, the Bride of Christ… Rev 19:8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Secondly, for us in the New Covenant, it could mean pursuing right standing with God by believing in the finished work of the Cross of Christ. In the New Covenant we are credited with righteousness by faith in God’s Son. Joh 6:28-29 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." In Philippians 3 Paul speaks of his life goals, one of which is… Php 3:9 ..and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. If we sow for ourselves righteousness, the promise is that we will reap the fruit of unfailing love. We will reap the benefits of God’s love which never fails.

It’s Time to Seek the Lord

Why do we need to seek the Lord? Is God hiding? No, but God only reveals the secrets of His Word – the deeper things of God to those who seek Him! As they say, you don’t pick up diamonds in the street, you have to dig for them. We love Jeremiah 29:11, it’s become one of the best known verses in the Bible, but do we know what the next two verses say?

Jer 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Are you going to land slap bang in the middle of God’s good plans for you automatically? No! Perhaps some application is required.

Heb 11:6 ..he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Let’s also remember that there is a protocol in approaching God – we must approach Him with reverence.

Psa 25:14 The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.

Let’s not dilly dally any longer because…

It’s Time!