Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes
and showers righteousness on you.

This verse has been put to a very catchy tune by Noriko Sasaki, and I translated it to be able to sing it in English as well. To me, this is an extremely appropriate verse for America right now. The moral and political mess can be directly attributed to believers being lazy or even asleep, failing to recognize the enemy’s tricks and stand against them. We have a lot of unplowed ground in our hearts! Just the other day I heard a magnificent message by E. W. Jackson that was nearly half quoted or paraphrased Scripture. He could easily have claimed this verse as his theme! We can’t save ourselves, but that doesn’t at all mean that we are to be passive. To use the image in this verse, we are to be active farmers (or gardeners) of our own hearts, plowing and removing weeds and rocks, planting good seed and anticipating the showers of righteousness that only God can provide. The problem is, when we fail to do that, not only does the ground become hard and unfruitful, weeds flourish and the enemy can build towers right in the middle of our field/heart. We certainly can’t look forward to much of a harvest in that case! America is in a mess, true, but the answer doesn’t lie in politicians, it lies in individual believers waking up and seeking the Lord, submitting to Him and resisting the devil. (James 4:7) America does have millions of people who love God, but not so many who are active in their faith, truly seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness above and before anything else. (Matthew 6:33) With the Bible’s characteristic consistency, that is exactly what this verse is telling us to do.

It is easy for me to see how others have failed to be active in their faith, but I tend to overlook my own lapses. I am spiritually lazy! The Lord has given me the object lesson of allowing me to tend a garden. This afternoon, after a wedding this morning, I need to get out there and pick up another bucket or two of rocks, getting ready for the spring plowing I need to do before long. We just had a really cold snap, but it looks like spring is definitely on its way, and I need to be accountable for the resources and opportunities I’m given. That applies doubly, at least, in the spiritual realm. I feel God really is bringing a season of fruitfulness to us, but I’m not to be passive or act somehow entitled. The past year of shutdowns and anxiety over the virus has left people hungry spiritually, and that can be a very good thing. I am to be active in presenting the Gospel however the Lord directs, so that as many as will may repent and believe, experiencing the glorious truth of this verse, not to mention the whole Bible!

Father, thank You for this encouragement. Thank You for the brother in the Lord who sent me that video link so that I could hear Your Word through E. W. Jackson. I do ask Your mercy for America right now, and I stand against the devil and his schemes around the world. He’s doing some pretty nasty things in a lot of places, but He’s no match for Your Spirit! I pray that Your children would actively open themselves up to the Holy Spirit, allowing You to empower and use them so that indeed, Your name may be recognized as holy and Your kingdom come as Your will is done, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!