The Back Forty

Dear Faith Family,

But when He who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son to me, in order that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, (Galatians 1:15, 16).  

Years ago, the decision was made to plow up our back forty.  Wow!  You guys live on a farm?  Kinda.  See, there’s the forest, oaks and pines and maples mostly, a couple of dogwoods.  Just ahead of the forest there’s the grassy area.  To the west is the wood-yard.  Just shy of the wood-yard is the back forty.  Since the back forty (and the forest, and the grassy area, and the woodyard) resides within the confines of just over a quarter of an acre lot (the one that our house sits on), the back forty happens to be twelve feet by eight feet.   

Now, the yard is on a slope, so leveling off the back forty was necessary.  Much lumber provided the structure for some rich, level dirt.  What a sight to behold!  We stare out the window and admire our back forty.  When friends and family come over, they comment about how nice it looks: “that’s some rich soil” or “you leveled that up nicely”.  Ok.  Maybe not. 

Here's the point.  I didn’t plow up the back forty and level up the place just to add dirt.  All that work amounted to preparation.  Preparation for planting, growing, and harvesting.  Today, when I get home, I’ll drive from the back door all the way out to the back forty (ok, maybe I’ll just walk the fifteen feet).  With clippers in hand, I will search for the okra that’s just the right size for picking.  That back forty was made to bear produce! 

Paul, Galatians 1, recognized the Lord’s labor of love.  God had set Paul apart before he was even born.  By His grace, God had called Paul to Himself.  And all of that (and more) that Paul might preach Jesus to the Gentiles.  All of God’s investment in the life of Paul (including when Paul was persecuting the church – God was still at work then) was on purpose.  God would produce through Paul the fruit of the Spirit. 

Is anything less true of you?  Consider the times that God has tilled the soil of your heart.  Contemplate the number of times that He has leveled your thinking with the truth of His Word.  And count the fruit of the Spirit that He has already produced in your life, not to mention the fruit that’s yet to come! 

Let's pick some okra,

Pastor Karl