"Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? Doth he open and break the clods of his ground" (Isa. 28:24)?

     At times the Master Gardener has to plow up the soil of His garden; "wild" flowers have been growing in it of all kinds, but they are "wild" and He has purposed a crop. 

     When the soil is turned over it looks dark and ugly, but soon He will sow His seed; He will thresh His wheat and grind it up to make bread to feed the world (Isa. 28:24-29).  

     Samuel Rutherford said many years ago, "Why should I start at the plow of my Lord that makes the deep furrows on my soul?  I know He is no idle Husbandman (Gardener); He purposes a crop." 

     Dear Christian, your life may be "all plowed up" right now but, fear not; it is the necessary work of your faithful Gardener.  He purposes a crop and He tells us what that "crop" is in Isaiah 51:3.  "For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody."

     This "crop" is very important to our Gardener.  He will never receive the glory and honor that He deserves unless His garden is producing this fruit (joy, gladness, thanks- giving and singing).  This is a very serious matter.  We must kill the "bugs" that are eating up this fruit.  Here is the reason why:  "Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things; and he shall put a yoke or iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee" (Deut. 28:47-48).  "Be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 5:18-20).  

     We are the branch of His planting, the work of His hands that He may be glorified.  May we not dishonor His name by not living according to His will and word.  

     God will be faithful to all His words.  Shall He joy over us with singing and He not receive the same from us (Zeph. 3:17)?  God forbid!