Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till He come and rain righteousness upon you. Hosea 10:12

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

WORKING THE HEART’S SOIL

“Let every church member consider the breaking up of the fallow ground, the careful cleansing of the soil, and the depositing and harrowing of the seed, which is the laborious work of the husbandman. It is a rough and searching process. The harrowing of the seed is not al-ways pleasant to the receiver, and sometimes disabling to him because he does not sense the virtue of the Word and become submissive under the tilling process in spiritual life. The sins committed require the sincere repentance that needeth not to be repented of, but when the hard soil is broken up and the stubborn clods are broken to pieces then the precious seed can be sown and harrowed into the soil. This represents the severe discipline of God. Often rebellion is manifested, and the discipline of God must continue until the deter-mined will is broken and the end is gained.” –That I May Know Him, p. 281

“In things spiritual as well as natural this work must be done. Often severity is needed to bring in the spiritual harvest. It is God’s great law that without the proper sowing of seed and the tillage there will be no harvest in sheaves. An experience is lacking. Divine blessings wait only for human spiritual working of the soil of the heart and the industry to care for the soil while the Lord is sowing His seed.” –That I May Know Him, p. 281

“As a man soweth he shall also reap. All who study the Word with full purpose to cleanse away from the life all sin, and who search the Scriptures to learn what is truth, will welcome the truth of the Word as a Thus saith the Lord. They will repent under the sharp re-proofs of Bible truth. . . . If a man sow true repentance he will reap the reward of sound good works. If he con-tinues in the faith he reaps peace. If he becomes sancti-fied and cleansed from his appetite for cheapness and folly he shall . . . reap righteousness and perfect love. . .

A continuance in the well doing in overcoming makes him a daily victor because he keeps the mark of Christ’s perfection ever before him.” –That I May Know Him, p. 281

“The garden of the heart must be cultivated. The soil must be broken up by deep repentance for sin. Poison-ous, Satanic plants must be uprooted. The soil once overgrown by thorns can be reclaimed only by diligent labor. So the evil tendencies of the natural heart can be overcome only by earnest effort in the name and strength of Jesus. The Lord bids us by His prophet, ‘Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.’ ‘Sow to yourselves in righteousness; reap in mercy.’ Jeremiah 4:3; Hosea 10:12. This work He de-sires to accomplish for us, and He asks us to co-operate with Him.”–Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 56

“We want men who are willing to go into new fields, and to do hard service for the Lord. I remember visiting in Iowa when the country was new, and I saw the farm-ers breaking the new ground. I noticed that they had heavy teams, and made tremendous efforts to make deep furrows, but the laborers gained strength and muscle by the exercise of their physical powers. It will make our young men strong to go into new fields, and break up the fallow ground of men’s hearts. This work will drive them nearer to God. It will help them to see that they are altogether inefficient in themselves. They must be wholly the Lords. They must put away their self-esteem and self-importance, and put on the Lord Jesus Christ. When they do this, they will be willing to go without the camp, and bear the burden as good sol-diers of the cross. They will gain efficiency and ability by mastering difficulties and overcoming obstacles.” –Review and Herald, October 8, 1889

Ellen G. White