Hosea 1-2
Psalm 103:9-12
Prophets in the Old Testament were individuals chosen to speak the word of the Lord to the people. Today we have massive amounts of verbage available in book, on TV, computer, and IPad, in fact we are constantly bombarded with words. For anyone who wants to hear the word of the Lord, it is readily available. But in Hosea's day, it was the propet who spoke and demonstrated God's message to his people. Hosea in his role as prophet was told to act out a parable. He was to marry a prostitute and remain faithful to her despite her adulterous conduct. He was to demonstrate the fact that although God was angry at Israel's behavior--that of seeking and worshipping other gods--he was still their God and he longed for them to be his people. God demonstrated his anger by removing his protection and withholding his benefits toward them. He showed them his love by receiving them and restoring his blessings to them when they truned back to him once again.
This book of the Bible is a wonderful reminder that God does not long to condemn or punish. He longs to forgive and restore. No matter how bad the betrayal, if there is repentance of heart, and a turning from sin, God will receive the sinner once again. "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:17).
By the time one reaches the senior years, almost everyone has things in their life to regret. Times they wandered far away from God, choices made outside the will of God, deeds hurtful to others, or behaviors harmful to themselves. While our head knows the truth of forgiveness, we often carry around the sense that we have failed God and that He must be disappointed in us. Perhaps we believe that we are only tolerated, not truly loved. We feel that we aren't worthy of being used for His Kingdom. The story of Hosea shows that God not only forgives but truly receives us again as His people. God is shown to be not some distant demigod afar off, but a husband who intimatley loves his bride.
It is important that we no longer hold on to old regrets and memories of past failures. We must fully accept the salvation provided by the God of love. If God no longer remembers what we have done, then we must not hold on to it either. "He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our trangressions from us" (Psalm 103:9-12). Are you holding on to regrets? Things that God no longer remembers? Is it dampening your joy and holding you back from service? God longs for you to be completerly restored. "Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
What are you holding on to?
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