Reassurance

Focus verses: Hosea 2:14,15

The book of Hosea is the picture of an unfaithful wife. We would call her a harlot or prostitute. But is is a picture of the infidelity of the children of Israel -- and by extension all of us who claim the name of Christ.

Despite our best intentions we are drawn away by many things, money, fame, power, sensuality, good causes, family concerns. Anything that takes first place in our hearts before God becomes an idol - an infidelity to God.

But God is faithful to us, no matter how unfaithful we are to Him.

There is a promise in these verses:

Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards and will make the Valley of Achor (Valley of trouble) a door of hope.

We have all had times of darkness and desolation, times when things went very wrong. We have lost a business, a friend, a family member, our self-esteem, something important. In these periods of desolation, God can speak to us.

Our times of trouble are times God can draw us closer to Him. He whispers His love to us. He makes us fruitful again. He restores our salvation. He is patient and faithful. His desire is our reunion with Him, and He will work to bring that about.

Father, God,

Thank you for Your faithfulness to us even when we are unfaithful to You. Grant us the softened hearts of the desolate that we may hear Your whispers of love to us and hasten to return to fidelity to You.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Micah's Mother

Focus verses: Judges 17:1-6

We don't know her name, but this lady causes a lot of trouble. She had lost some money, which her son, Micah, retrieved for her. She invokes the blessing of the Lord upon Micah, and she give him the silver to make a carved image and a cast idol. All in the name of the Lord.

Whoa, here! A carved image and a cast idol. Doesn't she remember the laws that Moses brought down from the mountain? In Deuteronomy chapter 4 idolatry is called the greatest evil. "Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves and idol, an image of any shape..."

So often, we invoke the name of the Lord and then do as we please, not as He has said we ought. We get off course, and we lead our children off course as well. When Micah hires the Levite,he does so in the name of the Lord. But this not the Lord's doing.

We must be very careful to keep to the straight and narrow track when following the Lord. A tiny deviation doesn't look bad the first step or two, but carried far enough it will get you far off the path of the Lord.

Father, God,

Help us to keep to Your straight and narrow path. Let us not be lured into calling things by other than the name You gave them. Keep us from deviating from Your path in the slightest area.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.