Hosea

I haven't written in a blog since I was 15. Not sure how often I will write, but after reading so many good blogs I decided to start one.

Today as I was reading in the book of Hosea andI was overwhelmed by Christ love for me. Starting in Hosea 4:1-5 HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD, YOU ISRAELITES, BECAUSE THE LORD HAS A CHARGE TO BRING AGAINST YOU WHO LIVE IN THE LAND: THERE IS NO FAITHFULNESS, NO LOVE, NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF GOD IN THE LAND. THERE IS ONLY CURSING, LYING AND MURDER, STEALING, AND ADULTERY; THEY BREAK ALL BOUNDS, AND BLOODSHED FOLLOWS BLOODSHED. BECAUSE OF THIS THE LAND MOURNS, AND ALL WHO LIVE IN IT WASTE AWAY; THE BEAST OF THE FIELD AND THE BIRDS OF THE AIR AND THE FISH OF THE SEA ARE DYING.

THEN IN CHAPTER 6:1-6 WE SEE HOW MERCIFUL GOD IS. HE DESIRES THEM MORE THAN ANYTHING. HE IS WILLING TO SAVE THEM NO MATTER HOW EVIL THEY HAVE BEEN.

WITH BEING A WIFE AND MOTHER I CONTINUALLY SEE GOD'S LOVE IN A NEW LIGHT. IT'S AMAZING HOW GOD USES ALL OUR EARTHLY RELATIONSHIPS TO POINT TO OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. WHETHER IT TEACHES US HOW TO LOVE OTHERS LIKE CHRIST LOVES US NO MATTER WHAT OR HOW IT SHOWS US HOW MUCH CHRIST LOVES US. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE ALWAYS AMAZED BY OUR OVERWHELMING LOVE FOR OUR DAUGHTER AND CONTINUE TO PONDER HOW MUCH MORE CHRIST LOVES; AND DESIRES THAT KIND OF LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH US. IT BLOWS US AWAY EVERY TIME!

SO BACK TO HOSEA. CHAPTER 6:1-3 COME, LET US RETURN TO THE LORD. HE HAS TORN US TO PIECES BUT WILL HEAL US; HE HAS INJURED US BUT HE WILL BIND UP OUR WOUNDS. AFTER TWO DAYS HE WILL REVIVE US; ON THE THIRD DAY HE WILL RESTORE US. THAT WE MAY LIVE IN HIS PRESENCE. LET US ACKNOWLEDGE THE LORD; LET US PRESS ON TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM. AS SURELY AS THE SUN RISES, HE WILL APPEAR; HE WILL COME TO US LIKE THE WINTER RAINS, LIKE THE SPRING RAINS THAT WATER THE EARTH.

IN VERSE 6 HE SAYS: FOR I DESIRE MERCY, NOT SACRIFICE, AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF GOD RATHER THAN BURNT OFFERINGS.

His desire is for us not for what we can do. He desires to be in love relationship with us. He's always there waiting for us. He desires a heart that seeks him with everything we have. He longs for us far more than a mother longs for her baby. As you seek Christ I promise it will be worth more than diamonds.

Read all of Hosea! It's my second favorite book in the Bible!