YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW!
Hosea 10:12 - Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
This month is the start of spring and this is the time for sowing seeds. But before we can plant we must prepare the ground by clearings, digging and breaking up the fallow ground.
Whatever you plan to reap, you must sow the same seed. To reap God’s mercy, grace, forgiveness, blessing, strength, kindness, goodness, love, life, we must sow in righteousness. Sowing in righteousness is to sow things right in God’s sight, things that please GOD.
Galatians 6:7 Don’t be deceived, you can’t fool God, whatever you sow you will reap. Gal 6:8 If you sow to the flesh you will reap corruption but if you sow to the Spirit you will reap everlasting life.
Galatians 5:19-21 describes sowing to the flesh: Adultery - sex outside marriage, uncleaness - dirty-mindedness, idolatry - things before God, hatred - of others, fornication - sex before marriage, licentiousness - uncontrolled desires, sorcery - drug taking, contentions - arguments etc.
Galations 5:22-23 describes sowing to the Spirit: love - doing good to others, joy - a thankful heart to God, peace - inward rest in God, long-suffering - having a long fuse, gentleness – kindness, goodness - purity, truthfulness, faithfulness - trustworthy, reliable, meekness – Spirit-controlled, self control - personal discipline.
Hos 10:12. Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord until He comes and rains righteousness upon you. Before we sow we must clear the weeds and break up the soil. We do this by repentance, being honest and open with God and others we can trust. If we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive us and to set us free, 1Jn 1:9, Jam 5:16. If we cover our sins we will not prosper but if we confess and forsake them we will have mercy, Pro 28:13. 10. Jesus said if we continue in His Word, we are truly His disciples and we shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free from sinful bondage, Jn 8:31-36.
Once the soil is prepared, the farmer sows good seed in the good ground.
10 seeds of righteousness to sow are in Ex 20:1-17.
a. Give God first place in your life, Phil 2:10.
b. Refuse to have any other thing before Him, 1Jn 5:21.
c. Honour His Name at all times, Lk 11:2.
d. Keep the Lord’s Day for the Lord, Ps 31:15.
e. Respect and care for your parents, Mat 15:4-6.
f. Forgive, pray for and bless others who hurt you, Mat 5:44, Mk 11:25,26.
g. Keep your marriage vows to your wife/husband, Eccl 9:9, Mal 2:14-16.
h. Respect the property of others and protect it for them, Mat 7:12, Ex 23:4.
Remember you YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW!
i. Always tell the truth, in love, about others, Eph 4:15, Ps 101:5.
j. Be content with what you have and give to others in need, 1Tim 6:6,7, Lk 6:38.