I'm praying for you. I'm praying that God will grow your faith and grow your passion and make you aware of how short time is. I'm praying you'll put in the time and work to memorize the verses through through out the spiritual growth campaign. I'm praying you'll build some consistency with your QT, devotions, time in the Word. I'm praying you'll get connected in a small group and start building relationships with others.
Our memory verse this week - Ephesians 5:15-17 (NCV) - "So be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise, nut live wisely. Use every chance you have for doing good, because these are evil times." (From memory BTW)
For the next few days, I want to look at another biblical character who spent his time well. He was wise in how he chose to live. That character is Hosea.
His head was spinning. His heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest. His worst nightmare had become a reality. His wife, the love of his life, had run off. He tried the best he could to comfort the kids and to answer their poignant and powerful questions like, “When is Mommy coming back?” But he didn’t know what to say. Yes, he had heard the rumors. He had heard that she had been seen around town with other men, but he didn’t believe it. He couldn’t believe it until now.
That evening, he tried his best to cook. He tried his best to help his kids with their homework and to put them to bed. Finally, as they went to sleep, he walked into his room and he noticed the empty closet. He could still smell the faint scent of his wife’s perfume. He asked, “Why me, God? Why me? What have I done to deserve this?”
Sound like one of those romance novels? Well, so goes the story—the love story—of a man named Hosea and his unfaithful wife, Gomer. As we delve into this unique story, we see a double drama.
The first drama being played out is the story of love—love between a man and a woman. Not the superficial, and shallow stuff like cards and candy. I’m talking about real love - irrational and unconditional.
The second part of the drama is what the love story represents. It represents God’s love and God’s dealing with His people. During the time of the writing, it represented God’s love for the Israelites. Today, it represents God’s love for his people, those of us who know him personally.
As we look up close and personal at Hosea’s life, we are going to see someone who understood what it meant to truly love someone. Some of you may be asking – “is love really a character quality?” Well, yes it is. Because love is a choice, love is an action. Love is commitment and sacrifice and serving.
And you know what? Love is all important to God. You could have endurance, obedience, vision, discipline, humility, faithfulness and even courage – but if you don’t have love, you don’t have anything. Listen to our first key verse this morning;
1 Corinthians 13:1 out of the English version says -“I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell.” It’s all about Love!
Now, put yourself in Hosea’s sandals. Hosea was married to one of the most beautiful people in the land. The girl had to be gorgeous. With a name like Gomer, she had to be. Suddenly, and without warning, Gomer spins on her heels and she leaves. She runs out on her husband – the love of her life.
The Bible describes what is going on in Gomer’s life right before she left. Hosea 2:5, says “For she said (this is Gomer talking), ‘I will go after my lovers who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.’”
What is she saying? I want to split – go my own way, do my own thing. Be with other men. Run away from the one who really loves me. This is really a picture of us and our relationship with God. It is a story that illustrates His love for us.
Over the next few days, I want to look at how much God loves us by seeing how much Hosea loved Gomer.I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course. ENDURE!
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