“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.” (Hosea 10:12)

Do you have any bitterness, anger, resentment, frustration, indifference, or apathy towards the Lord? Because if you do, you need to break up your unplowed ground, as these often serve as barriers to seeking the Lord. How can we hope to find, when we’re not in a place to seek?

Hosea 10 continues to describe the sins of Israel, and the punishment they will receive from the Lord in order for justice to prevail. In the same breath, God describes the way out in verse 12, but goes on to describe what is blocking their escape to freedom in verse 13.

“But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors” (Hosea 9:13)

Most of us wouldn’t go so far as to say we have deliberately planted wickedness, reaped evil, or eaten the fruit of deception, as those sound pretty extreme. But look at what comes next… God reveals that they were prideful, putting their faith and dependence on their own strength, abilities, and resources, rather than in trusting Him.

How many of us can relate to that? I can. The sin of pride must’ve led me down that road a thousand times throughout my life. God absolutely detests all sin, and cannot leave it unpunished, because He is just and holy. Thank God that He called me to repent and made me a new creation in Christ!

That’s why God called Israel to break up their unplowed ground- meaning hardened hearts unprepared to receive the Lord. Out of His love for us and desire for us to not walk down the road of destruction, He calls us to do the same.

When we recognize we are sinners and have a genuine heart of repentance, we are positioning ourselves to receive the Lord’s righteousness and reap the fruit of His unfailing love. God wants to bless you, so prepare your ground and seek the Lord until He comes.

[From January 31, 2019]