Bible Chapter: Hosea 13 & 14

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
We come to the end of this book that talks about the unfaithfulness of the people, God’s righteous judgment and redeeming love.  God reminded them once again of His care in the wilderness, in that dry and thirsty land.  The problem was that, when they had eaten and were satisfied, they became proud and forgot all about God.  They rejected God’s leadership and demanded to be like the other nations with a king. Now, where was their king?  God told them to let the king save them, but, obviously, he couldn’t. The kings they had were not there.  The people had to bear the consequences of their sin and guilt because they rebelled against God.  Horrible judgement awaited them.
God’s call was still for the nation to return to the Lord.  It was their sins that brought them down.  God called for them to confess and return to Him.  He was ready to forgive those with a repentant heart.
This book ends with an awesome statement.
Hosea 14:9 NLT
9 Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the LORD are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
Their sins were their downfall.  But God’s amazing love and grace still gave them an opportunity to repent and return to God.  He was not looking for a ritual, a meaningless sacrifice like they had been offering in the past.  Because of His mercy, God did not require them to beg for forgiveness.  What God always seeks is sincerity of heart, prayers of submission and words that declare a change of heart.  Whenever a person sins against God, it is right that they feel guilty.  Some people have a tendency to try to justify their actions and plead their case.  What God wants is genuine repentance and confession of sin.  People then can receive His forgiveness and be made new through the power of the Blood of Jesus.  Through a person’s changed life, people can prove their repentance is genuine.  How awesome it is to be forgiven.

3.  How can I help someone?
Pay attention to the message of this book.  God is not looking for puppets who go through a routine. He longs for real love and obedience that binds people to Him.