Plow Monday

This is a heads-up to any one who doesn't know that a week from today is “Plow Monday,” the start of the English agricultural year. Of course, no good farmer needs to be told this. He knows the time to plow, or plant. Just imagine if he didn’t.

Not being much of a farmer, I thought 2013 was my season for planting. Altha and I had moved to a new home, new state, ready for ‘new’ things. But then, God began plowing. Familiar with Hosea’s words “It is time to break up your fallow [unplowed] ground” (Hosea 10:12), I figured I had some hard soil that needed breaking up before I could be fully productive! Little did I know how much!

But, God is the archetypal agronomist—who “instructs the farmer and teaches him the right way to plow” (Is 28:24). While I do not fully understand everything, I know He cares enough not to leave me fallow. When David was in turmoil, he said, “I have calmed (meaning to "level or make smooth") my soul” (Ps. 131:2). When the plowing starts, will you take calm in your Heavenly Father's horticultural wisdom?

Did Peter's Net Break?

I’ve not written much this month because Altha and I have been busy moving in to our new home in San Jose, and doing the many things necessary to get settled. And of course these many things were not accomplished without a certain amount of stress.  My days have been full.

The other day I was thinking about the time (right after Peter’s denial) that he and the Disciples went fishing. After a night of catching nothing, a stranger shouted from the shore to cast their net on the other side of the boat; and immediately the net was filled—you might say, to the breaking point. (Did it break?) That’s when Peter knew the ‘stranger’ was Jesus.  It seems this event was perfectly timed to remind Peter of what Jesus had promised 3 years earlier: a “full-net” fishers-of-men ministry.

Even so, I knew that when I joined my Father’s “fishing” business, I could expect a full net (Col. 2:10).  But honestly, there have been times in the last few months when I thought it would break. But I also know He will never give more than I can hold (1 Cor. 10:13); He won't break me (Is. 42:3). That's why I can answer my own question, No, Peter's net did not break that day (and neither will yours or mine).

Are You Being Sabotaged by Little Foxes?

To grow in faith, you must be tested. I’ve had a lifetime of tests—failing as many as I pass, I'm sure! Surprisingly, I have less difficulty managing the big tests in life than the little ones. After thinking long on this, I’ve figure out that when a big test of faith comes along, I am able to resign myself to the sovereignty of God. But the little tests (pop quizzes?) stumble me, revealing more about my ‘faith position’ than the big ones! It’s one thing to stand firm in your faith through a life-or-death crisis over which you have little control anyway; but it’s quite another thing to ‘remain’ in faith when some irksome driver is tailgating you on the freeway.

In Solomon’s Song, he refers to the “little foxes that spoil the vines” just as the vines begin to blossom (2:15). As the foxes attempt to eat the sweet blossoms that will become grapes, they not only limit fruitfulness, but spoil the vineyards by breaking and damaging the tender vines—not destroying them, but certainly stunting their growth. These little foxes hide and lurk about, doing their best to avoid detection—their best work at night, in the dark.

The little foxes are the little trials that do not destroy our faith, but certainly sabotage it—preventing increase, stealing our peace and joy, and causing discontent. Just as these little foxes need to be caught and driven out of the vineyard, so we need to be quick to “take every thought [every saboteur] captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Co. 10:5). These saboteurs will always show up just as you begin to make spiritual progress. Let us catch the little foxes that are spoiling our fruitfulness and fellowship with Jesus.