Getting a Bumper Crop

Yesterday morning I told you about my garden from years ago. The hard ground and briny water made it difficult to produce a good crop. Any gardener knows that you have to prepare the soil if you want a good harvest. The rocks need to be removed and most of the time the soil needs to be fertilized to restore the nutrients.

Our hearts are the same.

“If you plant goodness, you will harvest faithful love. Plow your ground, and you will harvest with the Lord. He will come, and he will make goodness fall on you like rain.

13 But you planted evil, and you harvested trouble. You ate the fruit of your lies, because you had trusted in your power and your soldiers.” Hosea 10:12-13 ERV

The last few weeks I have been reading through the books of I & II Kings in the Old Testament. Some valuable lessons to be learned from those books…good rulers were replaced by selfish, power hungry, godless rulers who divided the nation and led the Israelites to their defeat and captivity. We can learn from their history.

They planted evil and harvested strife – it brought confusion, trouble and cruelty. Kings no longer sought God but did whatever seemed right at the time. One king even said he didn’t want to consult with the Lord’s prophet because he knew that the prophet would disagree with the king’s plan and tell him he was wrong.

We need to learn from their example and plant good seeds so that we have a harvest that honors the Lord.

“13 Are any of you wise or sensible? Then show it by living right and by being humble and wise in everything you do. 14 But if your heart is full of bitter jealousy and selfishness, don’t brag or lie to cover up the truth. 15 That kind of wisdom doesn’t come from above. It is earthly and selfish and comes from the devil himself. 16 Whenever people are jealous or selfish, they cause trouble and do all sorts of cruel things. 17 But the wisdom that comes from above leads us to be pure, friendly, gentle, sensible, kind, helpful, genuine, and sincere. 18 When peacemakers plant seeds of peace, they will harvest justice.” James 3:10-18 CEV

Take time today to evaluate what’s growing in your heart’s garden. If need be, plow it under and replant. There’s still plenty of time to bring in a good crop!