September 29
Happy Sabbath Everyone,
 
The scripture for today is Proverbs 12:11
 
Proverbs 12:11 He that tills his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that follows vain persons is void of understanding.
 
The message presented in our text for today is also stated later in the book of Proverbs: "He that tills his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that follows after worthless pursuits shall have poverty enough." Proverbs 28:19 This is a principle that is repeated throughout scripture. Work is the means by which we secure the blessings of the fruit of the ground. Without work, the earth does not yield its bounty to mankind. The poor, in many cases, forfeit food because of the lack of work or work ethic. "Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor" Proverbs 13:23  
      
In another sense the "ground" of our hearts will also bring forth fruit; the fruit of the Spirit. If the natural ground is fallow it is not receptive to seed because it is hard and has not been plowed.  Our hearts can be the same way; hardened and not receptive. How can we break up our hardened ground (hearts) if we find ourselves in such a condition? Scripture tells us "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." Hosea 10:12 He is not speaking of the natural ground, he is speaking of the ground of the heart, the spiritual condition. The solution is given in the text; "It is time to seek the LORD." Seeking the Lord is the activity of ceasing from going our own way and doing our own things. It is surrendering to Him in brokenness and contriteness and allowing His Holy Spirit to plow the soil of our hearts. He will rain down righteousness and fill such a seeker with bread. Jesus said "I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst." John 6:35 It is time to till our ground, it is time as never before to seek the LORD.
 
God bless you as you continue in His service.
Tim