30 Days with the Word – January 12

30 Days with THE WORD
January 12, 2021

John 1:1-2, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. He (the Word) was in the beginning with God (NKJV).’

Has your child ever said something unkind to you when he didn’t get his way? Has she swatted at you, emphatically stating, ‘I don’t like ‘ou right now, Mummy!’ Has the word hate or the emotion hatred ever fallen from the heart of someone you had been giving everything for? Did the one who you swore would be your forever turn and walk away? Has your heart been shattered by someone’s actions; your hopes dashed when all you gave returned void?

Hosea 11:1-4; 8-10, ‘When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt, I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from Me. They sacrificed to Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like the one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them…How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within Me; all my compassion is aroused. I will not carry out My fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a man—the Holy One among you. I will not come against their cities (NIV).’

The book of Hosea is a story of humanity and their God, the faithlessness of a people and the faithfulness of their God. God has forever been buying back the children He created for His enjoyment and companionship out of their audacious delinquency and prominent promiscuity. Even when we turn and walk away, choose another to love over our Creator, fashion other gods and worship our own pleasures, even still, our God relentlessly pursues us, running after us with tenacious and unwavering grace, with all His heart.

Hosea 14:4; 9, ‘I will heal their waywardness. I will love them lavishly. My anger is played out…If you want to live well, make sure you understand all of this. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll learn this inside and out. God’s paths get you where you want to go. Right-living people walk in them easily, but wrong-living people trip and stumble and fall (MSG).’

My heart feels humbled and fragile today as I think about all He has done for me; all He continues to see me through. He gave a Word to the people He was dreaming of that He would be our God and we would be His people. And no matter what, no matter how we conjured up our own ideals and perpetrated on His graciousness, no matter, He has never given up on that dream. What a good, good Father!

Do you know Him? If not, please! reach out today, and let me, or someone, make the most important introduction you will ever have.

*My pastor is leading us in a new series on the minor prophets, and I want to make sure Pastor Brady Boyd (NLC) receives acknowledgement for such a good Word this week.