Raining Righteousness

Sow for yourself righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, tell he comes and rains righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12

The people of Hosea's day had become hardened to God's Word. They had heard it many times before and had grown apethetic to what God required of them. God's solution was for them to break up the fallow ground of their hearts. When the earth was dry and crusty, the farmer would plow to loosen the soil so it was receptive to the seeds and the rains that would give life to the crop. Lifewise, God's people were to break up the sinful barriers in their lives that prevented God's Word from penetrating their hearts. Then, said Hosea, God would give life and refresh them by raining down on them in righteousness.

As Christians, we must coninually cultivate out hearts and minds so that they are receptive to whatever God tells us. John the Baptist exhorted those around him to prepare for Jesus' coming. We, too, can remind others to prepare their lives so that God's righteousness will penetrate and fill their lives. We can urge them to repent when we see sin sinking into their lives. We can share the joy that God's word brings us and encourage our friends to seek God's will also. We can tell of the blessings that have come to us as as result of our obedience. We can help to break up the fallow ground in the hearts of those around us.

Hosea admonished God's people to seek the Lord until His righteousness rained down upon them. We should immediately cultivate our heart whenever it starts to become hardened toward God. If we keep our hearts prepared, we will be ready when God's Word comes to us.

Is there anything hardening your heart today? Ask the Lord to present it to you so that you may repent and come to him and he will rain his righteousness down upon you.