- O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit. Hosea 14:8 – For a book like Hosea where there we see God’s people turning so far away from a faithful walk after Him and giving themselves unashamedly to idol worship, reading a chapter like this one where mercy is flowing so richly is such a picture of who our God is. We read about God’s plans to heal, forgive, and restore His people even after they had gone after sinfulness so fully. In verse 8 we get a glimpse of the heart of the individual who had been healed from their backsliding. The idols that once meant the world to them that they gave their lives to worship, mean nothing to them anymore for they have the Lord. The foreign nations and gods of gold that they trusted in for help are no more their source of help for God answers and looks after them now. The fruit they need to survive and to be holy they will acknowledge comes from the Lord and nowhere else. This posture is what the Lord longs from all His people. Where they give up their idols, where they know He will answer and look after them, and where they come to Him alone for the fruit they need in life. How are you doing with that? What idols are still at play in your story? Do we still find ourselves seeking answers and help in other places when God seems to be moving too slow? Are we finding our fill in life in other places than in what the Lord provides? As we step into a new year, let’s evaluate how we are doing with such things for the Lord is inviting us into a fully surrendered life with Him. Idols and the fruit from this world will offer you no good thing, but the Lord offers life. Choose to pursue the Lord. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2953
- Take with you words and return to the Lord; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips.” (v.2) After reading through the book of Hosea, one theme is evident everywhere in this writing….it’s time to come home. How often do we see the word “Return” show up in the verses of this book. Of course, God is disappointed in His people. They’ve walked so far away and gave their love elsewhere. What is His word to them though? Return. Return how? Not with fancy sacrifices, not with amounts of gold, but with their words of confession and repentant heart. Something those other fake “gods” they created out of wood and stone wouldn’t accept. Something seemingly worthless to them; their words of saying, “God, I’m sorry, take away from me the sin that is in my life and accept me again.” That’s what God wants; that’s coming home. Allow what the people in Hosea’s time be eye opening to you. God is telling you as well it’s time to come home. You don’t need to bring a huge sacrifice to win back His favor, Jesus took care of that. He is looking for your words and heart. Words of confession and love, and a heart of devotion only to Him. That’s coming home to God. – Daily DEVO 38
- Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Hosea 14:1 – This is truly amazing. God is aware of our sin yet still is inviting us to come back to Him. We see God here acknowledging that Israel has stumbled because of their sin yet still is opening the door for them to return home to Him. Understand God sees and is aware of everything you have done wrong and still He longs for you to come home to Him. Realize today your mess ups don’t disqualify from returning to God. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 564
- I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. Hosea 14:5-6 – In much of the rest of the book of Hosea we see what a life away from God looks like. Empty, dark, grasping for help from things that offer nothing to us. Here though in our final chapter we get a glimpse of what a life close to God looks like. One that is refreshed daily with God’s blessing, one that finds itself rooted deeply in a secure foundation, one that is beautiful and fragrant. Use this book as a reminder that the pursuit of a close walk with God is worth it. A closeness with sin leads only to pain but our closeness with God leads to a fill of all we need in life. What then is a way you can pursue a closer walk with Jesus today? What’s a way you can distance yourself from a closeness with sin today? The further we get from sin and the closer we get to Jesus the more full our life will become. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1682
Daily DEVO 