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Christian Devotional – November 1, 2014
Read Hosea chapter 11 VERSE: Hosea 11:4–I led them with cords of human kindness, with tons of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. TRUTH: God leads us with love and tenderness. He is truly a father to us in a way that a father is supposed to be. He loves us and tenderly leads us in the direction that we should go. If we persist in disobedience, then he must discipline us, but it is designed to bring us back to Him and restore us to Him. Are we allowing God to tenderly lead…
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Christian Devotional – October 31, 2014
Read Hosea chapter 10 VERSE: Hosea 10:12–Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break p your unplowed ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you. TRUTH: In the midst of an entire chapter about the evil consequences of their sin, God gives Israel this reminder. We reap what we sow. God tells us to sow righteousness. He promises that if we will sow righteousness then we will reap a harvest of unfailing love that will help us to reach even more ground with righteousness and unfailing love. What are we sowing today? We will reap what…
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Christian Devotional – October 30, 2014
Read Hosea chapter 9 VERSE: Hosea 9:17–My God will reject them because they have not obeyed him; they will be wanderers among the nations. TRUTH: The people of Israel had turned away from God. They had called themselves the children of God, yet they had rejected God. Since the people rejected God, God was rejecting them. Our obedience to God is a demonstration of our love for Him. If we are not obeying Him, then we do not love Him. Do we love and obey God? Or, have we lost our identity and become wanderers through life? RESPONSE: Father, You are my God and I love You. I will obey…
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Christian Devotional – October 29, 2014
Read Hosea chapter 8 VERSE: Hosea 8:4–They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval. With their silver and gold they make idols for themselves to their own destruction. TRUTH: As God was listing the sins the people had committed, He indicates that they had chosen leaders and rulers without consulting God. It is so important to make sure that if we have the opportunity to help choose leadership in our country or anywhere, that we will take the time to pray and ask God how He would have us vote or appoint leadership. May God never say of us that we chose leadership for ourselves without…
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Christian Devotional – October 28, 2014
Read Hosea chapter 7 VERSE: Hosea 7:10–Israel’s arrogance testifies against him, but despite all this he does not return to the Lord his God or search for him. TRUTH: Arrogance and pride are two sins that are difficult to repent of. This isn’t because God can’t forgive them; He can and He will. This is because it requires us to humble ourselves, admit we were wrong and repent to God. In arrogance, we often refuse to admit we’ve done anything wrong. Like Israel, we do not return to God. Don’t let arrogance keep us from returning to God. We are all sinners and the sooner we admit that, the sooner…
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Christian Devotional – October 27, 2014
Read Hosea chapter 6 VERSE: Hosea 6:6–For I desire mercy not sacrifice and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings. TRUTH: God desires our hearts, not just our actions. We can go through the motions of loving God, but God sees our heart and knows our motives. They “why” behind what we do every day matters to God more than the “what” of our actions. Do we seek after God and His heart? Acknowledging Him and desiring a relationship with Him are the attitudes that lead us to genuine obedience in our actions. RESPONSE: Father, give me a heart that seeks You. I want my actions to simply be a…
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Christian Devotional – October 26, 2014
Read Hosea chapter 5 VERSE: Hosea 5:13–When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his sores, then Ephraim turned to Assyria, and sent to the great king for help. But he is not able to cure you, not able to heal your sores. TRUTH: Who do we turn to when we are struggling and going through difficult times? For these people, they were going to anyone and everyone except God. Do we seek God in the midst of our difficulties? Or, are we instead turning to everything else that the world offers? God is the only one who is able to save and to restore. Run to Him! RESPONSE: Father,…
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Christian Devotional – October 25, 2014
Read Hosea chapter 4 VERSE: Hosea 4:1–Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgement of God in the land.” TRUTH: God was telling the people that they had completely left God. They lived in the land that god had promised them, but they weren’t faithful to God. They had no love for God and they didn’t even acknowledge God as being in the land. Because of this, they were headed toward disaster and judgment. Do we acknowledge God and His working and moving in our lives? More…
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Christian Devotional – October 24, 2014
Read Hosea chapter 3 VERSE: Hosea 3:5–Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days. TRUTH: God, in His wisdom and mercy, knew that the people would return from their rebellion and would seek the Lord. He also indicates that He will restore them and will bless them. When we turn away from God and sin, do we seek restoration and a return to God and His blessings? He is waiting to receive us. RESPONSE: Father, no matter what I do, I know that You are God. Even when…
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Christian Devotional – October 23, 2014
Read Hosea chapter 2 VERSE: Hosea 2:20–I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord. TRUTH: Even though the people had not been faithful to God, God was willing to forgive and to continue to be faithful to the people. God knew that they would turn back to Him. We may not always be faithful to Him, but He is always faithful to us. Do we repent and return to God when we have fallen? He will b there waiting for us. RESPONSE: Father, Your faithfulness is amazing. Even when I falter, You remain faithful to me. I pray You will help me to turn back to…