SCRIPTURE: Hosea 1-7
“Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” (Hosea 1:2)
God uses this dramatic object lesson – Hosea marrying a prostitute – to get the peoples’ attention.
‘This is what it is like for Me to be your God, when you are constantly unfaithful to Me!’
Imagine (if you are married) how your spouse would feel if you treated them like you treat God.
Only talk to them when you need something from them.
Using your shared income to waste it on your own addictions and excesses.
Loving the company of others more than them, only checking in once in a while.
God compares their wandering love for other gods and religious practices prostitution.
“A spirit of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God.” (Hosea 4:12)
But these words are not jealous revenge, notice how often God seeks to win her back.
God’s desire has always been to forgive and restore us, to help us find real joy.
But as long as we keep running away, we won’t find it.
This analogy may seem extreme, but just think about it for a bit.
Our sins may not be as extreme as theirs, but our lukewarm love still hurts God.
God does so much for us, God suffers so much for us, God only wants the best for us.
There is not better place to be, than to be loved by God, and to accept that love and return it.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, You have shown me how much God loves me. And You show me how I can love God with my life. Help me to love the God Who loves me, with all my heart, and to love others like You do!
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Observation/Application
Once again, the Word of the Lord came through His prophet – God using people to proclaim His Word.
The names given to children had meaning. And today? The name we give our children have meaning because . . . . our likes or dislikes or God’s leading?
The Lord receives His own no matter what they have done for we are His people. He has pledged His troth for His people and we/I must do the same. We need to acknowledge God as God, as my God. Only in Him will we find happiness, satisfaction, knowledge, truth, life!
Hear the Voice of the Lord. Walk in His Way. Listen and do. Word and Deed.
Open my ears Lord so that I hear Your voice daily. In You I find my daily strength and power to live for Jesus. Make me GodStrong. Help me LiveStrong. Help me to walk with You each day so that I walk in the Way. You know my way – bring it into Your Way.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Trust and obey, for there~ez_rsquo~s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Refrain
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
Refrain
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Refrain
I read a good book recently called ‘Crazy love’ by Francis Chan. I quote from the book this; God’s definition of what matters is pretty straightforward. He measures our lives on how we love’. His love is an unfailing love. One that is both terrifying and exciting because it’s a love I’ve never known before! I pray too, I love others just like how He loves!