Hosea – Chapter 12

Ephraim has said, “Ah, but I am rich; I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin.” Hosea 12:8 – One problem that Hosea found himself in during the time of his telling of his prophetic words was that Israel wasn’t struggling financially at this time. In fact, they were in a season of great wealth, and we see here that reality led them to believe nothing was wrong with the way they were living. How could they have any sin if they were living in such wealth? Here reveals a lie that the enemy longs for us to believe, that the status of our life determines our righteousness. If money is abundant, everyone is healthy, and food is on the table, then you must be living holy…right? If you are struggling, there is sickness in the family, and you have no food, then you must be living sinfully…right? Both are wrong, and we see that in this passage. Isreal was living in an abundance of wealth but also living in an abundance of sin. Idolatry had plagued their nation, and they turned from trusting God to trusting in foreign nations for help. Do not then allow the status of your life right now be your only determiner of the righteousness of your walk with the Lord. Things may be going well, but you may still be in sin somehow. Things may be going poorly in life, but you still are living righteously. Instead of looking at the status of your life as the determiner, look to scripture at the gauge you use to see if you are living righteously or not. For even the most holy of Christians will see struggles, and the most sinful will see worldly blessings. Use the steadfast word of God as your gauge in life and have your eyes open to the right way to live and the sin that may still be present in your life. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2951

So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God. (v.6) For a time in my life, I was hooked on the Brady Bunch. I remember this episode where the kids were playing in the house with a soccer ball when they lost control of the ball and it crashed into their mom’s antique vase, shattering it to pieces. They tried to cover the mistake up, making it look like it never happened. Eventually though, the mom was getting suspicious and the kids had to think fast. So they brought out the glue and pieced together the vase. It’s actually looked alright all glue together, couldn’t really tell anything happened to it. That is until the mom poured water into the vase and it showered the room with water pouring out of all the hidden cracks. I want you to understand, our life, mended and healed with our own “glue” is going to look that that broken vase to God. To everyone else, it looks put together and whole, but God knows that if He poured some water into you, those cracks would be blatantly obvious. That’s why God, as our heavenly Father, tells us He’ll help us return to Him. He’ll be our glue. He’ll be the one that holds us together allowing us to not worry about those gluing process, just returning to Him. He’s not mad that the vase is broken; He just doesn’t want you hiding from Him ashamed of your brokenness. Drop the glue and hand the pieces over to Him for Him to bring the restoration. – Daily DEVO 35

So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God. Hosea 12:6 – Make sure you catch the little phrase stuck between the commas. It didn’t say just you return, but by the help of your God return. That’s so important!! Realize this verse speaks to our lack of ability to return to God by ourselves. It’s only with the help of God that we can return to God. Thankfully that help is always available to all. Cease trying to make your life right just on your own. Yes, God is directing us to change our lives to live more for Him, but that process doesn’t happen without His help. We can’t make those changes without Him so stop trying to change without Him. Lean on the strength that is more than enough to help and is being offered to you this very moment. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 562

By a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt, and by a prophet he was guarded. Ephraim has given bitter provocation; so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds. Hosea 12:13-14 – Imagine someone doing something amazing for you that helped you in ways that deeply changed your life for the better. Now imagine the way you respond to them for all that is bitter rejection. That’s the message we get here about how God’s people responded to all the help He gave them. As we look over our story with God we can see so many times where He has stepped in and changed things for the better. Yet what’s been your response? Maybe not bitter rejection thankfully, but what about distracted devotion? Apathetic evangelism? Zeal-less worship? Remember all that God has done within your story and let’s seek to respond with our lives in a way that shows our gratitude. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1680