Christ-Centered Christmas -- Day 18
Throughout the Bible, God equates His relationship with the Israelites to marriage—a sacred life-long commitment and covenant. This is why Old Testament prophets, like Hosea, often call the Israelites adulterers (and even prostitutes) in regards to their relationship with God. The Lord is the faithful husband while the Israelites (and, by extension, us) continue to be the unfaithful spouse.
To provide an allegory of His steadfast love for an unfaithful people, God instructs Hosea to marry a prostitute. Can you imagine marrying someone who you knew would be unfaithful? Can your further imagine that you would then choose to love him or her anyway? Probably not! Yet, that is exactly what God does for us.
THINK
How have you shown yourself unfaithful to your faithful God?
The Israelites saw their “sickness” in Hosea 5, but where did they turn?
Where do you turn for hope and healing?
How do you see God’s unfailing love in Hosea 6:4-6?
What is your response to this God who relentlessly pursues His cheating spouse?
PRAY
Thank God for His unfailing and faithful love
Confess to God, if necessary, anything you have listed under the first question
Ask God to fill you with His love and strengthen you to stay faithful to Him
Ask God to lead you deeper into His loving arms
APPLY
As you may have noticed, you are reading through portions of Hosea. I encourage you to set aside time to read the whole book. It will give you deeper insight into God’s great love
