Today’s Bible Reading:
2 Kings 15-16; Hosea 1; Hebrews 1
Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:
Topic: God’s Love
SCRIPTURE: Hosea 1:2-3
2 When the
Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, "Go, take to
yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is
guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord." 3 So he married Gomer
daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. (Hos 1:2-3 NIV)
OBSERVATION:
How interesting it is that the Lord not only called Hosea to
the office of a prophet, but also to live out his life as an allegory. God
instructs Hosea to marry a harlot named Gomer. That marriage served as a living
example of the relationship between God and His chosen people Israel . Hosea
loved his wife and they had children together, but she would not remain
faithful to her husband. Despite her repeated straying and giving herself to
sexual intercourse with other men, Hosea would always go after her and always
continue to love her. Hosea shows by his love for Gomer the kind of love God
has for His chosen people. This is the kind of unwavering love God has for you
and me.
APPLICATION:
Our society today has become increasingly more sexually
permissive. For some, what has been called the “act of marriage” (engaging in
sexual intercourse) has very little value beyond satisfying an animal-like
urge. Having sexual relations with multiple partners is seen as permissible and
fidelity to one partner is of little importance or value… to some, but still not to most. Even among people who claim they do
not believe in God, most people today still place a high value on having an
exclusive sexual relationship with a mate. I believe most people reading this
blog understand that when you have joined in a mutual sexual relationship with
another person and that person chooses to be intimate with someone else, it
hurts! If you have ever experienced having someone you love intimately betray
your love, You know how overwhelmingly painful that can be. As humans we may
react to that anguish in different ways. Some let their love turn to hatred.
Some try to medicate the pain with drugs or alcohol. Some withdraw into an
emotional shell or act like it
doesn’t really hurt. Some try to hurt them back. Hosea must have felt the
horrible pain of betrayal and all of the emotions that go with it, but he
continued to pursue and love his wife. This is the picture of how God loves you
and me. No matter how unholy, ungrateful and unlovable we may behave, His love
for us never falters. Wow!
PRAYER:
Thank You Lord for Your great love. Thank You for never
giving up on me; it helps me to not give up on myself. Through Christ. Amen. -AP
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