Yesterday, you saw my theme verse for Lent 2010- 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.”
Today, we focus on seeing what might be delaying the showers of righteousness God wants to pour out on us. The first thing we notice is God expects us to do something for ourselves. The grace we need to get going has already been supplied. God's call to repent and believe has already gone out. They have been spoken to you. Now, and especially in Lent it is time for you to do something about it. The verse closes with this injunction: "for it is time to seek the Lord". What is the hold up?
The second thing we notice is the directive to reap. Sieze ahold of what is good and let the rest go. A 17th century contemplative said, "Four things a man must learn to do if he would make his record true: To think without confusion clearly, To love his fellow men sincerely, To act from honest motives purely, To trust in God and heaven securely." ... Is this what you are working towards doing during this Lenten season?
Finally, we are called to break up our unplowed ground. I know of three reasons why you can't plow the land. #1. The ground is too hard. I pray that is not your problem. If it is ask God right now to soften your soul with a good soaking of his word and Spirit. Father, heal the wounds that have scabbed and crusted over but have never become whole. #2. The ground is too wet, too slippery. Don't make decisions when you are tired or depressed. Don't rush to speak or answer when you haven't heard everything out or thought everything through. Act, but act with the certainty of Holy Spirit conviction and peace. #3. You try to plow too deep, too quickly. Move at the speed of grace. Be patient. Be kind to yourself.
The Lord stands ready to shower righteousness upon you!
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