Available for FREE Tuesday, May 18th

Thinking back

I remember staring down at the long, parched field of my calloused old heart. As I stepped onto that fallow ground, I had been given a new heart, a plow and told to go to work. Work? Yes, work.[1] My hand was put to the plow, told not to look back, to walk the narrow path[2] and get to it.

“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”[3]

The ground was dry, hard, filled with weeds and looked as if it were of no real value. After all, what good can come from such a ‘wasteland’ of a heart? The strength was not of myself, yet the command to trust and obey was clear. Rest and assurance were only to be found at the foot of Another. My drink was only to be found in His wellspring.[4] I entered that field nearly twenty years ago now, and this not due to any plan of my own. He freed me from my bondage, that heavy yoke of culture, sin, selfishness, joyless pleasure and failing bandages. His yoke was not heavy at all.[5] The work, although a most daunting and impossible task in the flesh, was made joyfully right and much desired. Although obedience was commanded of me,[6] He empowered my steps[7] and gave me desire to work.[8]

“Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you.”[9]

Read more soon…

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[1] Not works unto salvation, but a “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12) as a result of regeneration – true salvation.

[2] Matthew 7:13-14

[3] Luke 9:62

[4] John 4:13-14, 7:37-38

[5] Matthew 11:30

[6] See Luke 6:46; John 14:24

[7] Proverbs 3:5-6, 16:9; Psalm 37:22

[8] See Philippians 2:13

[9] Hosea 10:12. Also see Jeremiah 4:3