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Hosea 9:1-14:9<\/strong><\/span> Today we wrap up the book of Hosea!\u00a0 It\u2019s been a great read for me this year.\u00a0 It has been a good look at how the prophets of the Old Testament were warning Israel & Judah over and over again of their sins \u2013 sins that multiplied as we read in today\u2019s readings \u2013 and there was no repentance.\u00a0 Things just got worse.\u00a0 This did make me think today \u2013 if we continue to sin and sin and things get worse and worse in our lives and how we are adversely affecting other people\u2019s lives around us, is maybe the most compassionate thing for God to do \u2013 for us and others \u2013 to stop us from our path of destruction?\u00a0 My thought here in today\u2019s readings is that God is a compassionate God.\u00a0 Yes, he\u2019s throwing out some tough stuff in what he\u2019s saying \u2013 and will be doing \u2013 but for the end goal of getting people from stopping their sinful ways and harming themselves and others.\u00a0 Today, we are fortunate, compared to the Old Testament days, that we have Jesus Christ as a mediator for our sins between us and God \u2013 and not just a mediator \u2013 but a Healer.\u00a0 Jesus can heal us from our sinful desires and ways.\u00a0 So, while I do see God as being compassionate in the Old Testament & I am so thankful for his great compassion of sending his son Jesus to the earth for us.\u00a0 Without a doubt, God is good.<\/span> Hosea chapter 10 verse 12 I loved today: \u201cPlant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of my love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.\u2019\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Beautiful verse! Are you planting good seeds of righteousness in your life?\u00a0 What would good seeds of righteousness be?\u00a0 Is it possible that faith in Jesus is a seed of righteousness that you should plant \u2013 and that would indeed harvest a crop of God\u2019s love in your life?\u00a0 To plant these seeds of righteousness, you may need to plow up some hard ground in your heart and you may need to seek God like never before.\u00a0 Do you think this plowing is worth it?\u00a0 Will you plow so that God may come into your life and shower righteousness upon you?<\/span> In Hosea chapter 11 verses 8 & 9 we read this about God\u2019s compassion: \u201c\u201dOh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go? How can I destroy you like Admah and Zeboiim? My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows. No, I will not punish you as much as my burning anger tells me to. I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I absolutely love these verses. Do you believe that God will not give up on you?\u00a0 Do you believe that God\u2019s heart overflows with compassion for you?\u00a0 Do you believe that God is the one and only Holy and Living God, who is indeed involved in every single moment of your life?\u00a0 Do you believe God is closer than the air you breathe?\u00a0 (Thanks to the musician David Wilcox for this last question.\u00a0 I love that thought \u2013 God is closer than the air we breathe!)<\/span> Hosea 12 verse 6 has a phrase I love \u2013 \u201cSo now, come back to your God! Act on the principles of love and justice, and always live in confident dependence on your God.\u201d <\/em>Always live in confident dependence on God.\u00a0 Wow.\u00a0 My prayer for each of us is that we would indeed always live in confident dependence on God\u2026<\/span> The book of Hosea ends with a phenomenal verse \u2013 chapter 14 verse 9: \u201cLet those who are wise understand these things. Let those who are discerning listen carefully. The paths of the LORD are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But sinners stumble and fall along the way.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>This verse reminds me of the beauty of studying the Bible!\u00a0 The Bible gives us wisdom \u2013 and also we need wisdom to understand the Bible\u2019s teaching.\u00a0 But, the beauty is that the more we study the Bible, the more we gain wisdom, and the more that wisdom allows us to truly understand what we\u2019re reading in the Bible!\u00a0 It\u2019s a never-ending circle of elevation in our study of the Bible \u2013 we\u2019ll never fully \u201cget it\u201d all this side of heaven.\u00a0 But the more we study the Bible, the more I believe we\u2019ll be able to truly understand it and put it into practice.\u00a0 Do you believe this to be true?\u00a0 Have you found over time that studying the Bible becomes more and more interesting and you gain more and more insights and understandings?\u00a0 This verse above I think also has a warning if we don\u2019t surrender our lives to Jesus, dive into God\u2019s Word, and put it into practice in our lives.\u00a0 There is the very real risk of stumbling and falling along the way\u2026\u00a0 Let us not stumble!<\/span> Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings reminded me of TobyMac\u2019s song \u201cCornerstone:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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