Hosea – Chapter 13

But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior. Hosea 13:4 – Hosea is seeing something sad unfold in the lives of the people of Israel that we can see happen often in the lives of people today. Israel was in real need and they turned to the Lord. When the help came and they were back on their feet again, where did they go? Away from the Lord. Once healthy and whole again, instead of continuing after the God who just helped them, they turned once again away from God and pursued the sin that got them in the dark spot they were just in. Verse 4 of our chapter reminds us of a powerful truth, that God isn’t like this. God isn’t for us one day then the next day against us. We see that God was reminding them He had been their God since the time of Egypt, and even longer before that. Beside God there is no other god or savior for the people. He had remained constantly the same and constantly for His people, even when His people changed and were no longer for Him. Let us remember God is the same today for us. The God who met you at your lowest point and showed you deep love and mercy is the God who is with you right now. The God whose power from the stories of scripture captivated your attention is just as powerful in your story today. God hasn’t changed, but we sure can. Let us then come back to our first love, our love for the Lord. However we may have drifted away or however we may have ran away, let us return to the Lord that has always and will always be ready to receive us again. For He has been our God since the cross, and long before, and there is no God and Savior apart from Him. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2952

It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought; but when they had grazed, they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me. (v.5-6) When was the last time you opened up to God about your situation; asking Him for the blessing of a way out? Or even just opened up to Him over a need? Next question…did He provide? Are you still in that mess, in that need, or has He moved you from your pain and into something better? For us who have been blessed with the move we opened up over, we are thrilled during the transition period. Yet how often does the following happen? We receive the move away from the job, away from the loneliness, away from the struggle, take in the blessing of what God has given us, then forget once the blessing is ours to actually praise Him for it? We may give a quick thanks, sure, but is our life truly praising Him for the move we longed for that He blessed us with? It is God’s nature to provide for us, but it is not our natural response to live in praise over the provision. That is going to take a choice directed by you to actually praise Him for what He’s done for you. Make sure that choice is being made in your life. We serve such a good Father; the last thing He deserves is us forgetting about Him when the blessing arrives. – Daily DEVO 36

And now they sin more and more, and make for themselves metal images, idols skillfully made of their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of them, “Those who offer human sacrifice kiss calves!” Hosea 13:2 – Sin is never satisfied. As we see in the first phrase, “now they sin more and more.” They have stepped into their sin and now it’s like a hunger that can’t be meet so they keep filling themselves with sin trying to satisfy their desires. Sin though is never satisfied, it only leads to more sin and deeper pain. Did you notice how the last verse spoke of child sacrifice? That’s the type of sickening pain that sin wants in your life. See what sin gives today through this passage, now remember as well the joy and love God brings. Today when faced with the temptation to sin, remember how sin is never satisfied. Ask yourself, where is this sin going to lead me next and what will I have to do next to try and satisfy it? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 563

When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel, but he incurred guilt through Baal and died. Hosea 13:1 – What is lifted high can be brought down quickly when sin is added in. We’ve seen examples of this passage all throughout history. Presidents losing their position due to sin, pastors losing their ministry due to sin, a husband/father losing everything due to sin. What happened with Ephraim in our passage isn’t an isolated situation and it isn’t one we can say will never happen in our story. Remember the goal of our enemy and sin…to steal, kill, and destroy. Our earthly position doesn’t keep us from the enemies attacks, even if we are lifted and exalted high. Keep then in mind the people who your fall will impact. Our spouse, our kids, our congregations. Yes the enemy is going to attack, but Jesus is giving you all you need to refuse and reject the enemy. Lean on Jesus then for help so the precious ones in our story don’t have to be collateral damage in our fall. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1681