“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord until he comes and showers righteousness on you.” (Hosea 10:12)
Do you have any bitterness, anger, resentment, frustration, indifference, or apathy towards the Lord? Because if you do, you need to break up your unplowed ground, as these often serve as barriers to seeking the Lord. How can we hope to find, when we’re not in a place to seek? (more…)
“The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired man a maniac.” (Hosea 9:7)
Have you ever been labeled as a “Jesus freak” or ridiculed for your faith in some other way? I have. And if you have, then take heart, because when you represent Christ and are mocked for it, you are surely blessed! (more…)
“Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning. I wrote for them the many things of my law, but they regarded them as something alien. They offer sacrifices given to me and they eat the meat, but the Lord is not pleased with them.” (Hosea 8:11-13a)
A couple of nights ago I told my kids the quote by Billy Sunday which states, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.” While going to church is good, they now understand that simply doing religious activities has no bearing on their salvation. (more…)
“Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is a flat cake not turned over. Foreigners sap his strength, but he does not realize it. His hair is sprinkled with gray, but he does not notice.” (Hosea 7:8-9)
Do you remember your parents ever saying, “You can’t hang out with that person- they’re a bad influence!” If so, what they were trying to say was that if you hang out with people of lesser moral standards and values than you, then those people will drag you down with them. (more…)
“For I declare mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6)
If we are not sincere when we attempt to turn away from our sin and trust in God’s grace over our failures, then we will likely end up falling back into that same sin repeatedly or any other pattern of sins. If that cycle sounds familiar to you, then let me help you out and let you know that’s not the way it’s supposed to be. (more…)
SING THE WORD 