We are known by the crops we grow

Today, Tozer uses farming terms to describe two kinds of lives, ‘fallow’ and ‘plowed’. For those whose home has always been in the city, his metaphor needs some explanation. Fallow land is idle land. It may have been plowed and prepared but is left unsown for a season or more. Farmers do this to give the land a rest that restores its fertility, part of a crop rotation plan. On occasion, the farmer is trying to avoid surplus production.

Plowing is easier to understand. The land has been producing the wrong kind of crop, usually weeds. The soil has become hard and unreceptive to good seed, even to rain. It is useless as it is and needs plowing to break it up and prepare it for planting and production.

Tozer says the person with a ‘fallow’ life is content with the fruit he once bore. He may smile tolerantly or smugly at revivals or self-searching by those who are eager to keep growing in their faith. He might be what others call “steady and faithful” but as far as kingdom living goes, he is fruitless, fixed where he is and not growing, not becoming more like Jesus.

The person who lives a plowed life seeks the face of God. He does not get upset over tests and trials. He is eager to change, quick to repent, and sees the pressures of life as God’s way of transforming him into the image of His Son. He is humble, regardless of the fruit he bears and thoroughly understands what it means to die to self.

Both kinds of people have the same promise from God, but each interprets this differently:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

The fallow ground guy thinks that the abundant life is health, wealth and comfortable circumstances. He measures his abundance much the same way as those who do not know this promise from God. He does not realize that he is ‘worldly’ and caught in the temporal with no desire to be plowed. His prayers are for God’s ‘continued blessing’ and thanksgiving for all that he has.

The plowed guy defines abundant life as a deep relationship with God. He views contentment in all situations, even the tough ones, as abundance. He sees God supply all his needs, thankful yet able to generously part with his possessions if someone else has a greater need. He welcomes trials, even counts them as a joy, because he knows God is using them to bring him to greater maturity. He is also fearless, knowing that the Lord is looking out for him.

The above verse says the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. Is that not what happens when I become complacent and let my life go fallow? I am being robbed, destroyed and generally unware that living ‘the good life’ is killing me.

Tozer says God gives me what I want and if it is only little of His grace, that is all I will get. But if I want to live all out for Him and in His fullness, His longs “to find that kind of space in me” that He can use to show the world His love and grace.

^^^^^^^^

Jesus, You came that I may have life, abundant life. You define it differently than most of us do. You know that we will be challenged by Your plow and life’s struggles, but when I sing, “I’d rather have Jesus than anything” I want to mean it. I’ve tried the comfortable sort of abundance offered by the thief. It has its moments, and being comfortable isn’t necessarily a sin, but isn’t nearly as exciting or as satisfying as the abundance that goes with plowing, planting, and bearing fruit.

Responding to grace

(Devotional for October 13, posted after midnight - yawn)

This morning, God speaks to me from my daily ‘read through the Bible’ rather than the usual devotional book. He caught my attention with two verses. The first one prompted a bit of research; the second prompted confession.

This first verse exhorts me to live a life worthy of the Gospel. The same phrase is repeated in other places, helping me to form a definition of a worthy manner of life:

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.” (Philippians 1:27–28)

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1–3)

“. . . walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” (Colossians 1:10–12)

“We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” (1 Thessalonians 2:12–13)

God called me into His kingdom by grace, not because anything I am or do, yet this gracious gift means at least a thank You. God has given me new life, a new nature which ought to be expressed in the following ways:

• Unity and a firm stand for the Gospel alongside other Christians with the same mind in matters of faith.

• Having no fear of those who oppose us.

• Being humble, gentle, patient, with others, eager for unity and peace, and fruitful in what I do.

• Increasing in my knowledge of God, strong in His power and glorifying Him.

Persevering in joy and with thankfulness

Often my day begins with a to-do list. As I look at this, that to-do list comes to mind, but I know that apart from Christ, none of this is possible. If I abide in Him and obey Him, He will produce in me these worthy attitudes and actions.

However, the old me sometimes gets in the way. I start projects or come up with ideas that look good at first, but are driving by me instead of by the Holy Spirit. For instance, I’ve been spending time in creative projects with a person who needs Jesus. After our sessions together, I often feel frustrated, as if this relationship is going nowhere and is a waste of time. This morning God gave me an elbow in the ribs to show me how I am interfering with His blessing in it. He says:

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)

Oh, that feels more like a swift kick than an elbow. I notice that I have plans and ambitions that I want to have happen in this relationship, and I’ve also noticed myself considering my plans, ideas, and so on more significant than hers. This verse nails it; I’m selfishly ambitious and conceited, proud and considering myself and my ideas more significant than her and what she is doing. While we cannot have the unity and mutuality spoken of in the other passages about a ‘worthy walk’ as Christians together, this verse admonishes me in the way I relate to her and anyone else not yet in the kingdom.

^^^^^^^

Jesus, You speak loud and clear. I confess my pride and selfish ambition to You. I know that You hear and forgive. 1 John 1:9 says You also cleanse me from this unrighteousness when bring it to You. I’ve been praying for this other person to change and not seeing results. Today, I realize I’ve been praying for change for the wrong person.