Justin Matthew Reid

Bible Teachings - Break Up Your Fallow Ground

Jeremiah 4:3

"For thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns."

Hosea 10:12

"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you."

Luke 9:62

"And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Webster's 1828 Dictionary:

Fallow (adj.) - Unsowed; not tilled.

Tilled (past participle) - Cultivated; prepared for seed and kept clean.

Plow (n.) - In agriculture, an instrument for turning up, breaking and preparing the ground for receiving the seed. It is drawn by oxen or horses and saves the labor of digging; it is therefore the most useful instrument in agriculture.

When God says, "break up your fallow ground", He's saying "prepare your heart to receive my Word". We prepare our hearts to receive the engrafted Word of God. Righteousness was something completely foreign to us, until we let God transform us. Remember the parable of the sower. Only the seed that fell into "good ground" brought forth any fruit. Good ground is a willing and desirous heart before the Lord.

God's Word is amazing. It is able to transform our lives from filthy to righteous, as we obey. God cannot and will not force anyone to be righteous. That's why He urges and pleads with us to exercise our will to let Him plant, grow and reap in our lives.

God is admonishing us to keep our hands on the plow, moving forward. We are made righteous to continue on in righteousness. God has more purifying to do in our lives and He'll keep purifying until He sees in us the perfect reflection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let nothing prevent us from surrendering any unsurrendered parts of our lives to God, today. Let's keep our will, fully exercised towards God and His Word, for His glory. Amen.

In Christ,
Justin

September 20th, 2006