Tough Love

Read:

Hosea 3:1, “The Lord said to me, ‘Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods.’”

Think:

Gomer had a dubious reputation. Hosea’s wife was a lady with a questionable history. She was promiscuous. Their marriage faltered. She betrayed his trust and left him for other men. But Hosea obeyed God anyway.

What did Hosea do? Did he bail? Did he beg to be released from his commitment to her? God told him to do the unthinkable, to “show your love to your wife again.”. Gomer had humiliated, embarrassed, and dishonored Hosea by pursuing prostitution and the empty promises of other men. But when she was put up for sale, Hosea actually paid to get Gomer back.

That’s the story of the believer. The story of us when the world whispers its seduction, its empty promises: “Money will buy happiness. “You need more.” “Everyone is doing it!” Like Gomer, the wayward spouse, we pursue  false promises, but find we are enslaved by the destruction of the lies. But God, in His infinite goodness, redeemed us; He bought us with the blood of His Son. That’s the good news of the gospel, the glorious news of love.

Act:

Because He redeemed us and restored us, we get to love Him. How can you show your love to Him today?

Pray:

Christ, You delivered us from a life lived enslaved in destruction. We give You all the praise and glory. Teach us to live in faithful obedience to You. Amen.