This was tough stuff. I definitely wouldn't call Hosea a "feel-good" book of the Bible. But we know that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching (2 Timothy 3:16); therefore, we cannot pick and choose the parts of the Bible we listen to. ALL of it is meant for us. ALL of it points to Jesus.
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It's so easy to read Hosea and think...goodness gracious, Israel is baaa-a-ad. Horrible. [I mean, I never realized the Bible said "whore" so much. Seriously!] But we are quick to forget who we are and what Jesus has done for us in spite of our sinfulness.
I love what the devotion said in response to reading Hosea 10:
Sisters, we need to keep in mind that sin is sin.
God grieves our sinful nature no matter what it looks like in human eyes.
We all have idols in our lives, we all stumble, we all put human capability before God's sovereignty at times.
No matter how sweetly it's packaged up and delivered, it's still sin.
- She Reads Truth
Ooof. "No matter how sweetly it's packaged up and delivered, it's still sin." That one hit home for me.
But God doesn't want us to get down on ourselves. He wants us to come to Him in our brokenness. He wants to cleanse and complete us. He wants us to sow in righteousness and reap in mercy:
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In the Lord, we have endless hope. No matter how far or how fast or how long we try to run away. We cannot escape His love. He wants us to be in relationship with Him. The way He loves us transcends all human perception. Hosea illustrates these truths.
I love the Tim Keller quote that was shared on the penultimate day of the study:
The cross.
Hosea paints a story of what's to come--before the world has met its Savior.
The cross.
It covers every ounce of our sin, shame, and guilt.
The cross.
Unending love. Amazing, undeserving, never-changing grace.
...Let it rain, let it rain. Open the floodgates of Heaven...
March 2014 Study Announcement
Want to read along with us? Please do!
March 2014 Study Announcement
Want to read along with us? Please do!
March Study: She Reads Truth - Promises
This is a 21 day study. We will begin reading on 3/5. We will link-up on 3/27.
Share your thoughts/reflections along the way on Instagram with #ImInTheWord.
Oh yeah, Hosea is not one of the "happy" books, nor does it contain many verses that are committed to memory and quoted constantly--but it's quite a powerful story.
ReplyDeleteI also sat and and just let that Keller quote sink in for minutes. Or at least it felt like it. So true. Thanks for putting this together, Elise! Xo
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This study really hit me. Especially today's message about "Beauty is in the return." No matter what you've done, return to Him for He is waiting. So powerful! Can't wait to do the March study!
ReplyDeleteWe cannot escape His love. <--and THANK THE LORD for that. Love this, and you. Thank you women for initiating these group studies! xoxo
ReplyDeleteAll of the descriptions of Israel's sin are awful and you get to a point where you think, "these people are ridiculous." Then you realize your sin is just like their sin and the description becomes your description and boom...you're on your knees. Loved this read!
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love 6:3! Beautiful images..... keep inspiring others! :) Love this post so much!
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I just love your sweet, sweet heart. Thank you for sharing this today - and for reminding us all that sin is sin. Plain and simple. Sometimes it's easy to think that one 'little' sin isn't a big deal. But it's just as bad as a 'big' sin in God's eyes. That puts things into perspective!
ReplyDeleteJust wrote down the March study in my planner! I cannot wait to join you both. Thank you for being a shining light of God's love here on earth, HE is using you in so many ways and there is no doubt that through your blog alone you are impacting so many lives! XO
ReplyDeleteLove this, sis. Amazing. Great reminder. LOVE YOUUU
ReplyDeleteI love the book of Hosea because God brings judgement on our sin, but He always brings us back to Him. Some of us just have to learn the hard way more often than not. I totally failed on doing this months study, but I am all in for the next. It's in my planner - that means it will actually happen!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouragement, sweet Elise!! This is such a great reminder when we start to think a little too highly of ourselves and our sins as Christians. But like you also said, we have wave after wave after wave of grace constantly covering us and washing us clean. Praise Jesus for that; Heaven knows how much we need!!!
ReplyDeleteYou just shared the Gospel so beautifully - I absolutely love reading the words/ truth that God speaks through you on here!!
ReplyDeleteI loved the quote on sin! That really hit me. I think I may have to join you girls for this bible study! xo
ReplyDeleteLove this, Elise!! God's love and forgiveness is so incredible... I am so undeserving!! This book is a good reminder that we are called to emulate Christ and show this type of love and forgiveness to others too!
ReplyDeleteLove you, love this, love your heart - I'll be reading!
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