The plowing of our hearts
7 When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. (Hebrews 6:7) We have previously studied the various types of soil that a farmer might come across in his journey to bring forth a crop. There might be rocky soil that is able to bear some crop, but then it soon withers because of the lack of both nutrients and the heat of the day scorching its tender roots. The soil could be hard, unyielding to the seed sown, easily snatched away by scavenging birds or carried on the wind. Regardless of the type of soil, it has to be "tended" in order to bring forth a crop. Yesterday, we looked at the idea of renewal - the process of something being made new or refreshed. The process of renewal for the one who farms is often a process of plowing the earth - turning over the soil time and time again until it is "fit" for the reception of the seed. In the plowing process, renewal occurs because that soil is broken up, al