Wednesday
READ: Hosea 3:1-5, Jeremiah 3:6-10
SOAP: Hosea 3:1
And the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.”- Hosea 3:1
Poor Hosea received another command from the Lord: “Go again and love a woman who is an adulteress.” God directed Hosea to go back to his wife once again – the word “again” really impresses me! – and redeem her. Please note that Gomer was with another man at that very moment. It wasn´t something from her past. It was in the present. Yet Hosea was commanded to go back to her and love her and to buy her for the slavery of her sin. Sounds familiar?
Why did God command Hosea to go back to his still-unfaithful wife? Not only for the sake of Hosea and his wife Gomer but also so they would become a living lesson of the Lord’s relationship with His people. They were steeped in spiritual adultery, yet the Lord still loved them.
Thinking of the greatness of God’s love and compassion towards us should make us much more loving, compassionate, and forgiving towards others. He forgives us over and over again. We should do the same with those He has placed around us.
Dear Father, help me forgive others as You forgive my many sins every single day. Help me have a heart full of love and mercy towards others. Amen.