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.”
I read a sermon from Charles Finney. It charged us us get alone and write down all the sins we could recall and repent of them. While that doesn’t seem like a bad thing it wasn’t a good fit for me. Those were my early days as a christian. I already had a guilt and condemnation problem. This raised the guilt temperature many times.
I hadn’t yet come to know grace. If I recall Keith Green spoke of Finney’s sermon. Keith was also guilt provoking in his messages. While his music was great, as was his passion he seemed unbalanced.
I would like to look at this passage with fresh eyes. For the farmer to plant, he must first break up the fallow ground. This is the dry hardened dirt that is closed to seeds. We need to take the pick and drive it into the ground and make the soil open to seeds, fertilizer and water. Part of this we do. God also does much. He puts us in circumstances that make us want to.
The problem with Finney’s instructions is that it didn’t seem to leave room for the Holy Spirit. John 16:8 says of the Holy Spirit, “And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment”. He will point out the sins, habits and attitudes we are to confess. My overactive conscience would always be looking for things to condemn me for. Grace hadn’t gotten me yet.
If the Lord is prompting us to do something, do it. If not, enjoy Him. Walk through our days praising Him, seeking opportunities to share about Him. “Let the peace of God that passes all understanding guard our hearts.”
My walk with Christ has become so wonderful. His peace and joy are in my heart. We go through highs and lows. Some days are stressful. We ask for His help. He works all for the good. The early days of condemnation were rough. I had many negative ways. Part of it was from my religious upbringing. I would say some was from disapproving influences. God’s message of love and grace cleaned much of that up.
Thank You, Lord, for Your love and grace. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit for loving and guiding us.