The prophet Hosea was called upon to both proclaim and act out the amazing love of God. Instructed to marry one who either had already become or would become a prostitute, Hosea is told that this is how God loves Israel. Betrayed by his unfaithful wife, he is told to go and bring her back, to reach out in loving grace and mercy, just as God kept kept reaching out to His disobedient, unfaithful people.
In contrast to God's love, He describes Israel's superficial, disloyal, unfaithful love in Hosea 6:4 "Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears." Love that disappears - how much our society of broken relationships and broken hearts knows about that kind of love.
The book Hosea writes is not all "sweetness and light". However it portrays through Hosea's actions and prophetic words how God keeps on loving His OT people with a tough but tender love. He may bring them through very painful times, those who so often rejected and betrayed God's loyal love. Yet His compassionate love never gives up.
If we know ourselves at all, we know that we don't deserve such loyal, faithful love. To be loved fully, not because of who we are or what we have done is a marvellous gift. To be loved in spite of who we are and what we have done is God's amazing gracious gift to us. This kind of love is what is demonstrated and promised to those of us who respond to God's invitation.
Thank you God for the life and message of Hosea. Thank you Father for the life and death of your Son, our Saviour. "Amazing Love, how can it be, that you my God would die for me."
In contrast to God's love, He describes Israel's superficial, disloyal, unfaithful love in Hosea 6:4 "Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears." Love that disappears - how much our society of broken relationships and broken hearts knows about that kind of love.
The book Hosea writes is not all "sweetness and light". However it portrays through Hosea's actions and prophetic words how God keeps on loving His OT people with a tough but tender love. He may bring them through very painful times, those who so often rejected and betrayed God's loyal love. Yet His compassionate love never gives up.
If we know ourselves at all, we know that we don't deserve such loyal, faithful love. To be loved fully, not because of who we are or what we have done is a marvellous gift. To be loved in spite of who we are and what we have done is God's amazing gracious gift to us. This kind of love is what is demonstrated and promised to those of us who respond to God's invitation.
Thank you God for the life and message of Hosea. Thank you Father for the life and death of your Son, our Saviour. "Amazing Love, how can it be, that you my God would die for me."
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