Break up your fallow ground

Jeremiah 4:3-4. ‘For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart.”’

Hosea 10:12. “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, ‘till He comes and rains righteousness on you.”


A fallow ground is soil that has once been tilled and useful, but which now lies idle and appears hard baked, dry and unfruitful. To become fertile, a fallow ground ought to be broken up, to get rid of the hard baked soil, in order to reveal the soft and fertile soil underneath. Unless this is done, seeds planted on them will either be washed away, or picked up by birds.


Similarly, our hearts are soils upon which God plants. Jesus used seeds in a parable to describe how we react to the Word of God as human beings. The Word of God planted on fertile ground reaps the greatest harvest. All other grounds are not conducive for a great harvest. Luke 8:4-15


As Christians we must till the soil upon which God plants - our hearts! Our hearts can become cluttered with the cares of life - care for work and money, family and children, social qualifications and status, for travel and fame, etc,etc. We become engrossed in social events and get soaked up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, often leaving little, or no room for God. Where we regard God, we do so hurriedly, in an attempt to save time, and to virtually get a somewhat boring encounter over and done with.


Our infertile hearts become uncircumcised, gathering up the filth of unrighteousness and carnality. We become like dogs returning to their vomit. Where there once was patience, we fill with impatience, anger and violence. Where we harboured truth, we now celebrate lies. Where we exercised self control and long suffering, we now display intolerance. We become like the Galatians whom Paul addressed - Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Galatians 3:3


We ought to examine our hearts and rid it of any fore skin, any hardened soil. We have to acknowledge our sins and repent. We have to re-focus on God, and on spiritual things. We need to re-ignite our passion for the Holy Spirit, and listen for His voice. We must linger in the presence of God, and in His Word, which will cleanse us of all filth, and plough our hearts for a great harvest.


Ezekiel 36:25-27: “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you and you shall be clean: I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take away the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgements and do them.”


God is calling His own to return to Him! A great harvest awaits our obedience.


WHAT IS NEXT?