The fallow ground and the thorns

The fallow ground and the thorns

Scripture:- For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Jeremiah 4:3

Observation:- In this Scripture, we see the Lord continue to call the men of Judah and Jerusalem to repentance. Firstly, the Lord calls them to break up their fallow ground, which is a reference to their hearts. Fallow ground is uncultivated, barren and unfit for planting crop until it is broken up and tilled. For us too, our hearts are sometimes like that, hardened, set in our own ways. We cannot move forward and bear fruit for the Lord until we let the Lord break up the hardness of our hearts. This may involve some pain, some hardship, but ultimately, it is necessary for us to bear good fruit later.

Remember how Jesus said “Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Imagine coming to Jesus and letting Him give us His yoke, and till our hearts according to His Words. As we come to Jesus, and wait and spend time with Him, we will be surprised how easily our heart softens and changes in His presence.

Secondly, the Lord warns the men not to sow among thorns. Here, the parable of the seed comes to mind. Jesus spoke of how when the farmer scatters the seed, it falls on different types of grounds. Some of the seed fell on thorny ground where thorns grew up with the seed making it unfruitful. The Lord explained that the thorns as the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things which come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Are we worried? We must learn to cast our cares on Jesus and trust Him? Are we beginning to be deceived by wealth? We must not let money master us, but realize that money is only fleeting and temporary, but instead seek God’s kingdom. Are our desires always for other things? It could be certain hobbies we are obsessed with, it could be food, it could be shopping, movies, relationships, anything at all that always fills our minds and hearts and takes away our attention from Jesus and His Words.

Application: Spend time with Jesus in reading His Word and praying, and let Him break up the fallow ground of our hearts and cultivate it according to His ways. Beware of the worries of life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires of other things that come in and choke the Word. Ask God for forgiveness and wisdom and strength to overcome the temptations of the world.

Prayer:- Lord Jesus, draw my heart to spend much time with You, that my heart may be changed to Your ways in love. Keep my eyes away from the worries of life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things. In Jesus name, Amen.