Plow New Grounds for Yourselves Hosea 10:11-12

Text:

Hosea 10:11-12
"Israel was once like a well-trained young cow, ready and willing to thresh grain. But I decided to put a yoke on her beautiful neck and to harness her for harder work. I made Judah pull the plow and Israel pull the harrow. I said, Plow new ground for yourselves, plant righteousness, and reap the blessings that your devotion to me will produce. It is time for you to turn to me, your LORD, and I will come and pour out blessings upon you.(GNT)

Is God still blessing the Righteous?

Are Faithful people still getting blessed?

Sometimes, it seems like the wicked are prosperous but those who are righteous just barely get by. Does that make God wicked or is there something we are not doing right?

The passage above shows us clearly that God's decision to put a yoke which signifies hardship (harder work) on Israel was not born out of wickedness. The yoke was not even to prepare a new ground for God but for themselves. 

Yeah, you are a well-trained minister of God's word; you may be well trained as a youth minister, a blossoming drummer or guitarist for the household of faith, currently you might even be training other "young cows" to be ready and willing to thresh grain for God's flock. God is happy with that but for you, He sure knows that is not enough. You can do more.

You can go further, you can do more for yourself. 

Note again, "I said, Plow new ground for yourselves". 

1. It is God saying it. That is why you have to listen, believe and act. This is a direct directive, it must not be ignored. Remember Psalm 138:2 For Thou hast made great Thy saying above all Thy name.(YLT)

2. Plow: Plowing is not easy, it is hard work. According to our passage, it is harder than just threshing grains. According to Quora.com, plowing is more like using a spatula to flip a pancake only that this time it's not pancake but hard ground. One version says "break up your fallow ground(WB)". That was done by using animal then but now is done using tractors. Imagine how tedious it must have been for those animals. Don't let someone convince you saying "go soft on yourself, you are doing just fine". There is more work to be done. Plow.

3. New Ground: There are still unevangelised nations in the world. Untold millions are still untold. You still have friends who sneer at the word "Born again". Those are new grounds pastor. Work on them! You'd think you are at your peak in worship leading for your church, there are new ways, there are deeper levels, Come up higher. The context of this verse was referring to an even better ground: in your heart. That is where you can sow Righteousness. 

4. For Yourselves: All these that you are directed to do is not for the sake of the church, your pastor, your fellowship leader, your HOD, your music director or even your audience. Most times, people who work for God in one capacity or the other in the household of God get to that dark point where we assume we are benefiting God or doing others a favour by our service. I get scared when I see people expect God or the pastor to importantly commend them for services rendered to the brethren... Bro, service to God is part of our Worship and not a gift to Him. 

God will bless you not for serving Him in one capacity but because you devotedly seek Him. Service in His vineyard may be a way for you to seek Him but service without seeking God is in not complete. Let's see what some bible verses say about that.

1. Hosea 10:12

and reap the blessings that your devotion to me will produce. It is time for you to turn to me, your LORD, and I will come and pour out blessings upon you.(GNT)

 

2.Deuteronomy 4:29-31
But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice (for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.(NKJV) 

3.Lamentations 3:25
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,To the soul who seeks Him.(NKJV)

4. Hebrews 11:6
No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.(GNT)

You can get others by searching through the scriptures. 

We shall discuss next on what to sow after plowing new grounds for yourself.

May the Good Lord bless you as you Plow new Grounds for yourself today in Jesus' name.