Sow for yourselves righteousness. Reap the fruit of unfailing love and break up your unplowed ground, for it is time to seek the Lord. Hosea 1012 a coach may allow his team to play around and laugh and goof off a bit before practice begins, but the time comes when he has to say, okay, that's enough. Now let's get to work. The prophet, the pastor, teachers, and other spiritual leaders will also give God's people some leeway in life, allowing them to kick back and kick loose and just enjoy life. Serving God isn't all work and no play. There is fun and laughter as well as serious study and effort. But the time comes when men and women of God must stand up and say, okay, enough. It's time to clean up our act and get focused. Nobody likes a teacher who is a hovering dictator, watching every move we make, ready to pounce on us for the smallest mistake. I had a music teacher like that once. Those of us in the trumpet section of the band were scared to death of playing the wrong note because this man stood behind us and would smack our fingers with his baton when we did. A friend of mine actually quit band because of it. Spiritual leaders are not dictators who demand perfection from others, but they do have a responsibility to keep those under their care on track for their own good as well as for the good of the kingdom of God. The Bible describes gods people as sheep. Sheep need to be led, fed, and protected, and thats the shepherds responsibility. He must not allow the sheep to go too far and wander away from the fold. There are times when he must call them out because of sin, indiscretion, and lagging. Focus on the task to which God has called them. He will at times need to remind them to do whats right. Right to sow seeds of righteousness and not wild oats. To sow seeds of righteousness means not only doing what is good and right, but also not doing things that are harmful and wrong. We can't do what is right while doing what is wrong at the same time. As James said, a fig tree doesn't bear olives, and a grapevine doesn't produce figs, and salt water doesn't come from a freshwater spring. Hosea reminded his people that they would reap what they sowed. If they sowed good seed, they could expect a good crop. But if they sowed bad seed, they had no right to expect a good return. We can't expect God to bless sinful behavior. So listen to your coach. There's a time to relax, have some fun, and enjoy your life. But there comes a time when we need to buckle up, settle down, and get to work doing what is good and walking away from what is not.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to dailythoughtspodcastmail.com. Have a great day and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.