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. (Hosea 10:12 NIV).

There are some constants about God that are revealed to us through the Scripture. The reading today in Hosea is one of those passages that speak directly to Israel. Hosea was a prophet that God used to call the people to repentance. If ever there was a time in our nation for us to hear the same call it certainly is now! There are three distinct principles for us to see:

§  First, God wants His people to seek Him. From the beginning of time, God has been calling us into fellowship with Him. I love the way Moses tells the story of God walking in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. The interaction is a wonderful image for me as I recognize how much God wants to fellowship with me too. The wonder of it all is that before a man ever seeks God, God has first sought after man. Most Sunday afternoons I can be found dozing in my chair. Often I sleep while Mary is busy doing things around the house. On a few occasions I have wakened to find her sitting quietly on the sofa waiting for me to get up and do something! It’s usually at this point that she has tired of doing the little things that need to be done and is ready for me to do something with her. I like that feeling, because I know she loves me. Isn’t that exactly the picture of God who waits for me to wake up and pay Him some attention? This has not changed throughout the millennia. God is still seeking time with His children.

§  Second, if we will earnestly seek God, God is easily found. Remember the story of the boy Jesus where His parents could not find Him for a short time. Mary and Joseph found Him in the temple, learning from the temple leaders. When questioned, Jesus responded, “Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?” God desires that same attitude in our hearts today. I have never known anyone who genuinely searched for God who didn't find Him, because God is always waiting that we may call on Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you.

§  Third, once we find God, He will desire to transform us. God's design for us is to be better than we’ve ever imagined. He wants us to have the mind of Christ so that we might receive the full blessings of fellowship with Him. This is the impact of Jesus’ coming to bring us an abundant life. This transformation requires the cleansing of His grace through Christ so that we can become more and more like Jesus. He wants to turn over the “unplowed ground” and make it fertile enough to bear good fruit. He wants to change us so we may better experience Him and all of His glory.