Dave’s Monday Blast – October 3, 2016
Last week we began unpacking some truths about God’s incredible, unconditional love for us found in the little book of Hosea. We read that the prophet Hosea had been instructed by the Lord to marry a prostitute. The events that unfold as a result of his obedience (I trust you took the time to read Hosea last week and meet his family) are hard to read about, but are a perfect metaphor of God’s love for us, and a very practical example of how men are to love their wives. The turbulence of Hosea’s marriage teaches us that we may run from God in our disobedience, we may commit metaphorical adultery, but He does not stop loving nor pursuing us. He creates a door of hope for us to enter and even the most rebellious may be restored.
I shared the first of four valuable lessons from this little book last week. In review:
- Unfaithfulness Breaks Relationships:True Covenant Love is Absolutely Exclusive. Declining to follow God’s rules and rejecting exclusivity with Him may feel like freedom in the moment, but in actuality all you get is chaos and heartbreak.
New this week: Characteristics of God’s Love
- God’s love is tough love: If we want to walk away from God, He says, “Go ahead.” We have free will. He does not force His love on us. But, He says, we will experience all the consequences. “They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.” Hosea 8:7
- God’s love is an unconditional love: We may give up on people, but God NEVER does. “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites.” Hosea 3:1 God’s love will not permit Him to give up on His people. Hosea did not give up on his wife, God did not give up on Israel, and there is no way He is giving up on you.
- God loves you more than you know, so it’s time to come home: Pastor Ray Johnston says it this way, “This is the main message of Hosea. We may be lost. We may be twisted, but Jesus was twisted on the cross so that we could be forgiven. God loves you more than you know, and now is the time to come home to Him. Hosea may be home to one of the Bible’s more unusual stories, but its message is one of the most important. If you return to God, He will receive you back. He will revive you. The past will be gone, and the best days of your spiritual life will lie ahead. That’s good isn’t it! “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but He will heal us; He has injured us but He will bind up our wounds.” Hosea 6:1
Is there a relationship you are tempted to give up on my brothers? Make an INTENTIONAL decision this day to understand God’s heart, which is to meet with us and to restore us back to Himself. Should we do any less specific to those who have hurt us?
