Fruit of Unfailing Love
Date: May 18, 2023
I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.
B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
S - Summarize and Share
You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?
B - Bible Verse: Hosea 10:12 (NIV): "Sow righteousness for yourselves, 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 his righteousness on you."
L - Listen for God's Word and Pray: Heavenly Father, as I come before Your Word, open my heart and ears to receive Your message. Speak to me through Hosea 10:12 and reveal the significance of sowing righteousness, reaping the fruit of unfailing love, and seeking You wholeheartedly. Help me understand how to break up any unplowed ground in my life and experience Your righteousness showering upon me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
E - Explore the History and Meaning: The book of Hosea was written by the prophet Hosea during a time of spiritual decay and idolatry in the nation of Israel. Hosea was called by God to deliver a message of warning and restoration to the people. In this verse, Hosea emphasizes the importance of sowing righteousness, seeking the Lord, and experiencing His abundant blessings. It involves living in alignment with God's principles and commands. By doing so, we open ourselves to reap the fruit of God's unfailing love and experience His blessings. The verse also encourages us to break up the unplowed ground within us, symbolizing the need to remove hardness, complacency, and resistance in our hearts. It highlights the urgency of seeking the Lord wholeheartedly, knowing that He will come and shower His righteousness upon us.
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases:
"Sow righteousness" emphasizes the importance of intentionally living according to God's standards and principles.
"Reap the fruit of unfailing love" highlights the blessings and rewards that come from cultivating a life of righteousness and experiencing God's unwavering love.
"Break up your unplowed ground" signifies the need to examine our hearts, remove hardness, and allow God to cultivate a receptive and fertile heart within us.
"Seek the Lord" emphasizes the urgency of pursuing God with our whole being, desiring His presence, guidance, and intimate relationship.
S - Summarize and Share:
This verse speaks right to our hearts, even in today's world. It's like a roadmap for a fulfilling and blessed life. God is inviting us to sow righteousness, which means making choices that align with His ways. When we do that, get ready for an incredible harvest of His unfailing love! It's like reaping all the good stuff He has in store for us.
But here's the deal, we can't ignore the unplowed ground in our lives. You know, those areas where we've let things get hard or neglected. God wants us to break up that unplowed ground. It's time to dig deep and let Him work in those areas. He wants to soften our hearts and make them fertile, ready to receive His love, guidance, and transformation.
And guess what? Seeking the Lord isn't just a one-time thing. It's an ongoing adventure. We're called to seek Him until He comes and showers His righteousness on us. It's like a never-ending treasure hunt! The more we seek Him, the more we experience His righteousness raining down on us. Talk about being drenched in His goodness!
Let’s take this verse to heart and make it real in our lives. Let's sow righteousness in everything we do, say, and think. Let's break up that unplowed ground and let God work His wonders in us. And most importantly, let's keep seeking the Lord with all our hearts, knowing that the more we seek, the more we'll find His righteousness overflowing in our lives.
Are you ready for this incredible journey? Let's dive in together and watch how God's love and righteousness transform us from the inside out. It's time to experience the joy and fulfillment that come from sowing righteousness, seeking the Lord, and reaping the amazing fruit of His unfailing love.
Bible Cross References:
Galatians 6:7-8: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."
Psalm 85:10: "Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other."
Matthew 5:6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
Proverbs 11:18: "A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward."