HE'S CALLING YOU!

Reading through various passages from Hosea and Jeremiah, I am struck by three things about who God is and what he wants from his people.

Number 1 - God hates sin. He is very angry when he sees rebellion, injustice, disbelief, idol worship, deceit, etc.

"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." Hosea 4:1-3a

God continually mentions how his people are falling away from him by seeking after things other than God to satisfy themselves.

"Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the Lord." Hosea 5:4

Number 2 - God's love, compassion, and and heart gripping longing for his people to come back to him is greater than we could ever imagine or understand. Despite all the sin and corruption in this world, God wants nothing more than for his people to return to him and follow him. He continually calls for us to come back to him.

"I myself said, 'How gladly would I treat you like sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.' I though you would call me, 'FATHER' and not turn away from following me." Jeremiah 3:19

"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me." Hosea 11:1-2b

"How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man- the Holy One among you, I will not come in wrath." Hosea 11:8-9 (Admah and Zeboliim were cities that were demolished with Sodom and Gomorrah - Genesis 14:8, Deut. 29:23)

God has reached out to us in the most ultimate way by sending Jesus Christ to the earth to spend time with people, heal and teach them, and die for all of us so that God can forgive our sins. He has given the most amazing, sacrificial gift he could in an attempt to draw people to him.

"And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." - Jesus (John 6:39-40)

"But when I am lifted up form the earth, will draw all men to myself." - Jesus (John 12:32)

Number 3 - No matter what you have done in your life, God wants you to come back to him with full heatedly run away from the sin that was enslaving us. He will receive you, help you change, bless you and give you abundant life! Don't just come back in pretense, give Jesus your whole life. (Check out all of Jer. 3 for more on this)

"Have you not just called to me; 'My father, my friend from my youth, will you always be angry? Will your wrath continue forever?' This is how you talk but you do all the evil you can." Jer. 3:4-5

"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings" Hosea 6:6

"Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unploughed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you." Hosea 10:12

God rocks! I really encourage you all to read through all of Hosea and Jeremiah in the near future to get the full stories to really understand the incredible love God showed Israel in the past and now extends to you! God is calling you!

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Revelations 3:20

Rock on for Christ,
amber