Hosea 14:1-9 (click to view Scripture below)
Hosea 14 paints a beautiful picture of God’s grace and the transforming power that comes from repentance. “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take with you words and return to the Lord.” Israel had turned from God, they had sought after other gods, but God spoke, “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely for my anger has turned away from them.” Just like Israel our hearts turn to other things and wander from God but He is there waiting to transform us and allow us to experience the blessings of repentance.
Children in ChildHope Schools experience transformation in their homes when families are changed. Parents who hear the gospel, like the Israelites, turn from the gods of alcohol, drugs, prostitution, and criminal activity to a loving Father who pours out His love freely. Homes that were filled with strife are now transformed and filled with love. Children who felt fear now feel safe. God’s grace and his transforming power change everything.
Wife of Executive Director Phil Schmidt
Prayer: Lord, thank you for waiting for us — for calling us back to you over and over again. May we remain in a constant state of returning to you so that we can be transformed by your grace.
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Hosea 14:1-9 (ESV)
1Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God,
for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
2 Take with you words
and return to the Lord;
say to him,
“Take away all iniquity;
accept what is good,
and we will pay with bulls
the vows of our lips.
3 Assyria shall not save us;
we will not ride on horses;
and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’
to the work of our hands.
In you the orphan finds mercy.”
4 I will heal their apostasy;
I will love them freely,
for my anger has turned from them.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel;
he shall blossom like the lily;
he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;
6 his shoots shall spread out;
his beauty shall be like the olive,
and his fragrance like Lebanon.
7 They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow;
they shall flourish like the grain;
they shall blossom like the vine;
their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
8 O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?
It is I who answer and look after you.
I am like an evergreen cypress;
from me comes your fruit.
9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
whoever is discerning, let him know them;
for the ways of the Lord are right,
and the upright walk in them,
but transgressors stumble in them.
See other devotionals in this series.
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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