Hearing From Hosea

In his commentary on Hosea, Derek Kidner poses the age old question: “If God is all-powerful and all-good, why does he not rid the world of evil?” Kidner maintains that Hosea helps us examines this from God’s perspective.

If we listen with open eyes, Hosea shows us the complexity of the puzzle, the complicated mess of brokenness in the world, he shows us the entangled mess of family. Hosea shows us that the answer for us, the broken children of God is thankfully not an either/or, but the answer is a humbling, self-examining, mixture of recognition, amazement, failure, restoration, repeat.

In this book, we can see we have an all-knowing God that at the right times withdraws, at the right times displays displeasure, but above all else we see that we have a God that always provides his tender mercies, his amazing grace and his eternal and divine love. So what can we take from this book of trials, disappointments, failures and hurts? 

For me I see so much hope and encouragement. I see:

1) That no matter the circumstances in our lives God is with us; no matter our failures God is pursuing us always.

2)  That we have a God that loves the broken, messed up, worthless, failures; the ragamuffins of this world. You know; someone like me. And He loves us so much that he would send his only Son to seek and save; to pay our debt in full and for all time.

3) And that despite all the negative in this world, we can rejoice in the living and certain hope we have in Christ.

Hosea 14:4-7 NLT

"The Lord says, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever. I will be to Israel like a refreshing dew from heaven. Israel will blossom like the lily; it will send roots deep into the soil like the cedars in Lebanon. Its branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees, as fragrant as the cedars of Lebanon. My people will again live under my shade. They will flourish like grain and blossom like grapevines. They will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon."

Oh what a good and gracious God we have…a God that is with us always, that opens the eyes of our hearts, a God that heals and loves and restores. Should this surprise us about God? To quote James Boice, “it should not, because God is the source of every good gift and all fruitfulness. Beauty! Strength! Value! Delight! Abundance! These are in him. He is beauty, strength, value, delight, and abundance. He is the answer to our need.”

Finally, when I think of all Hosea went through, when I think of all Christ went through; the pain, the hurt, the disappointment, the humiliation, all for Gomer, all for us; I know we can keep moving. We can keep moving despite the circumstances, the negative before us, despite our failures over and over again, we can keep moving…moving toward God. And along the way we can know, trust and live with eternal and certain hope, we can live with joy because Christ has finished it all for us, we can live in the assurance that like the old hymn says; “it will be better farther on.”

When my faith took hold on Jesus,

Light devine within me shone,

And I know since that glad moment,

“It is better father on.”

I have plunged into the fountain,

Flowing free for everyone;

I am saved and Hope is singing,

“It is better father on.”

Grace and Peace!

What’s Next?

 

Recently, I have been wrestling with a nagging question.  The simple question of what’s next keeps coming to mind and heart. I know it is a deep question that will take much time and prayer to come to terms with, but I do feel the tug to tackle an important part of the Bible that I have never really, I mean really studied - the Minor Prophets.  

And it just so happens (imagine that) that I recently got as a gift a commentary series on the Minor Prophets by James Boice (there’s your sign). In the preface, Boice points out that the Prophets highlight and emphasize and remind us of three things. 1) the sovereignty of God, 2) the holiness of God, and 3) the love of God. He continues by saying; “We need these emphases today. We need them as individuals...We need them as a nation...We need to learn - deeply - and in a way that changes us...”

Needless  to say I am very excited (and honestly a little nervous) for this tiny first step in my effort to see just what is next on my spiritual journey!

Grace and Peace!

Keep on Smiling

 

1 Peter 5

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,  not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;  not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. Greet one another with the kiss of love. 

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Keep on Smilin’

Song by Wet Willie

Well you say you got the blues, 

Got holes in both of your shoes, 

Feelin' alone and confused, 

You got to keep on smilin', keep on smilin'

You got to keep on smilin', keep on smilin'

Keep on smilin' through the rain, laughin' at the pain 

Rollin with the changes til the sun comes out again 

Keep on smilin' through the rain, laughin' at the pain 

Rollin with the changes, singin' this refrain

Big Idea

Peter concludes his first letter with a summary for living while knowing it will be so much “better farther on.”  He reminds us to live lives caring for, serving and protecting others, to move forward ourselves and to lovingly guide those we love onward toward the unfading crown of eternal glory.  Peter reminds us to live humbly casting our anxieties on our mighty God because he cares for us. He reminds us to be cautious in this broken world, to know that there will be trials and tests, temptations and suffering, but to also know we are never alone.

Peter reminds us to keep the faith, to press on (thanks Paul) because the God of grace is with us always and will restore, confirm, establish and strengthen us no matter the circumstances of this world.

And with that: to him be the glory forever and ever!

Amen and Amen!

No Surprises - Happy

 

1 Peter 4:12-19 ESV

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Happy

Song by Pharrell Williams

Here come bad news talking this and that (yeah)

Well, give me all you got, and don't hold it back (yeah)

Well, I should probably warn you, you'll be just fine (yeah)

No offense to you, don't waste your time

(Here's why)...

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth

Because I'm happy

Big Idea:

This week as I was reading, I came to Job 23:10-11  - But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside.

- and I started to see how these verses could help me better understand 1 Peter 4:12-19.  

It occurred to me that in this broken world there will be times of tests, trials, and suffering and we should not be surprised by that - that’s life. But, the good news is we can know and trust that (Emmanuel) God is with us.  It means we can imperfectly follow in the steps of our Savior (sanctification) and we can “entrust our souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (V19), while bringing joy and love and kindness to the world around us.  

We can rejoice knowing, being sure of the glory that was, the glory that is and the glory to come and whatever we encounter in this world, we can live in the now, with the certain hope of the not yet.  As believers, come what may, we can persevere because “God rests upon you” (V14)…All for the glory of God!

Grace and Peace!