PLOUGHING/SOWING/REAPING
Today’s Reading: Hosea 9-10
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
A Farmer at Nazareth Village in Nazareth uses a sickle. Reaping before modern farm implements was a very labour intensive task. Over and over again, the Scriptures make the point that what we sow in our lifetimes, we will inevitably reap as a harvest, as in our key verse, either “mercy” or “iniquity.”
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Hosea 10:12-13a
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.
You have plowed wickedness;
You have reaped iniquity.
In Hosea 9 & 10 the message is clear. A Holy God and sin cannot co-exist. Therefore, sin must be dealt with. The sacrificial offerings were a way of covering sin by the picture they presented of the final sacrifice for sin by Jesus Christ (Messiah) on the cross. We can learn from Hosea. We must determine to live holy lives in order to please God. Every day we are sowing by our actions and we reap in our lives, and in our families, the consequences of sin. Breaking up fallow ground (ploughing) is hard work, requiring firm discipline. “IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD!” Sin almost totally destroyed God’s chosen people. They sowed sin and reaped a crop of destruction and pain. While our sins are forgiven and we have the assurance of eternal life because of the cross of Christ, as long as we are in this life, we hurt ourselves and our loved ones as a result of sin.
Jesus taught about sowing and reaping. When our hearts are hardened by sin, the Lord’s efforts to plant good seed are thwarted. Are there stones that need removal from our lives? Or have thorns grown in our lives which hurt ourselves and others? (read Luke 8:4-15).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I repent!!! I pray for Your rain of righteousness to fall on me, soaking me with pure and holy living. I seek You, Lord Jesus! Forgive my sin and change my heart and mind! May I take deliberate actions to move away from the occasion of sinning and from those who would entice me to sin. By repentance I break up the hard ground in my heart, and I ask for the good seed of Your Word to penetrate into my innermost being, producing a harvest of holiness!!! In the Name of Your 100% Holy Son, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Here are some random thoughts. Surely Hosea 9:17 has been fulfilled, “They shall be wanderers among the nations.” Until 1948 God’s ancient people had not had a sovereign state for over 2,000 years. They wandered the world over. They are gathered back to Israel, but a national revival of faith in God and obedience to God is still to take place there.
Hosea 10:3b, “As for a king, what would he do for us,” reminds me of President Kennedy’s statement, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.” It is rather obvious that the people of Israel were refusing to take responsibility for their own lives and wanted big government to do almost everything for them.
The summer I turned eight, my Uncle Harvey Lindsay, on whose farm we lived while my Dad was overseas during the WW2 years, taught me to break up the hard ground with a one-furrow plough behind Mischief, his one and only horse. He reprimanded me whenever I was distracted and took my eyes off the post across the field. By a steady gaze at that post, I was to plough a straight furrow. I’ve never forgotten that lesson. As long as I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, and by focusing on His unchanging holy Person, I can continue to live straight.
Yours for consistently living a holy life by God’s grace given to us as we plough up the hardness in our lives, sowing daily the seed of God’s Word in our hearts and minds, reaping holiness before our Holy God,
David
We must determine to live holy lives in order to please God, amen. We tow the line for You, Jesus, seeking Your loving grace. Wonderful prayer, today. Thank you, Irene, Eleanor, Luisa, Sah, Ger, and all saints, for your loving prayers driving; felt guarded by angels. Thinking of my dear sister, Laura–21 years ago, today, she went home to be with our Lord. How I miss her, so. Wishing all saints a blessed day, with the joy of Easter approaching.
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Luke 24:36 NIV
Lamb of God – Vertical Church Band (Lyrics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhis7v2myVg
Some good lessons from the Lord and Pastor David. Prayed his prayer. My mother Alice Victoria went home to be with the Lord 17 years ago today as well Beverlee. She would pray and say that she believed all her 13 children would come to the Lord. I am still praying for that. God bless you saints this Easter season.
I have always wondered why the holocaust. Studying our bible is so enlightening and mystifying.
Just wanted to say that adding Robbie Symons to the 100 Huntley St. programming is a God send for certain. He is totally unpretentious and dedicated to sharing God’s great Word, in my opinion. Thank you, thank you, thank you heavenly Father for sharing him with us.
Satan’s hate of God and his people are the reason for the holocaust.He will not stop trying.God bless
Thank you William for your explanation about the holocaust.
God bless you as well and have a great Easter weekend.
This was my sister’s reply:
God desires holiness in His children’s lives, if not ; there are consequences!!! With God`s [Holy Spirit } we are able to live holy [ not perfect lives] !! It can take our life time ,depending on our willingness to grow & the environment in which we grow and the fruit we bear for Jesus` Name. God knows us WELL & He alone knows what will help us grow if we are ready & co-operative. May you [Lynda] grow in the Grace & Knowledge of our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!! Blessings . Love to you all. Happy Easter!
Amen Lynda!
Amen Linda !
Parables of
the sower.
Scripture from Gal 6.7;8.
This weekend is the first
anniversary of my father’s passing.
Testing.Unable to post anything.
Hello everyone.I haven’t been able to post in a while.It’s nice to know that I can.This blog is a blessing to all of us.Another big thanks to David and to his family for honouring him and serving others.
Today’s reading is well acted in this British movie from way back and has the story of the sower scene too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYFtpxQc6kI
God bless
Nice to hear from you again, Bill. God bless you.
Amen, Rob!
Yes, Bill; we have missed you.
Thank You Jesus for the Cross!!! For Your Precious Blood that was spilled for me! For us!! WHAT GREAT LOVE!!!
BLESSINGS TO ALL DURING THIS HOLY WEEK.
MAY YOUR EASTER CELEBRATION BE A GLORIOUS ONE!!
I am so excited, I am going to church tonight and will take communion! With my sleep disorder I can’t get to services during the morning ….so I am VERY THANKFUL to be able to go to this service
also had help cleaning out cupboards, so THANKFUL for this person, Mary, please pray for her and hubby, they do not believe, I ask the Lord to guard my mouth so that I do not say something that would offend……
pray the Lord will heal the kidneys in Darren, he is on the list for a transplant HOWEVER the Holy Spirit removed addictions from me 22 years ago, He can heal the kidneys; He also can remove smoking from Kim;
Yes, we PRAISE AND THANK THE LORD FOR OUR SALVATION,
WE CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION AMEN AMEN AMEN
I love the “eyes off the post” story and lesson ! 🙂