Day 246

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God's People Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge!

Scripture

September 2—Hosea 4-6: An Adulterous Union

Observation

A prophet's first task is to confront a nation with its sin. In chapter 4 Hosea catalogs Israel's offenses against God: "No faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God" (v. 1); they "swear, lie, kill, steal and commit adultery" (v. 2); "the priests are wicked, the people are too" (v. 9); "prostitution" (v. 13); "stubbornness wedded to idolatry" (v. 16-17). The indictment is severe; judgment will come soon.

No news is new news. Compare today's news with Hosea 4. Any similarity? Clever as modern man may be, he has yet to invent any "new" sins. Hosea's call to repentance is as timely today as when it was first delivered more than twenty-six centuries ago!

Application

The doctor carefully examines his patient but can find no explanation for the young child's unusual and persistent abdominal pains. Suddenly the child blurts out, "I know what the problem is—green apples!" "But how can you know for sure?" the doctor inquires. The boy replies, "I have inside information."

Truth is transforming—but only when it is internalized. God's Word brings conviction—but only when you expose your life to its convicting truths. God's Word is likened to milk (1 Peter 2:2), meat (Hebrews 5:12, 14) and honey (Psalm 19:10)—but it is only nourishing when you feed upon it. An untouched pantry full of food is as useless physically as an unopened Bible is spiritually.

Israel's spiritual bankruptcy could be traced to her vast treasure of untouched truth. It wasn't that the people didn't know about God. In fact, their very existence as a nation was based on that knowledge. Rather, they had failed to live by that knowledge—to embrace its implications in their individual and national lives.

How about you? Do you have "inside information" based on a living relationship with Jesus Christ? If you have never done so before, invite your loving Savior to come into your life. You'll discover that to know him is to love him!

Prayer

Dear God, our eyes are fixed on you, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Please help us to never lose sight of you while we keep the end in view and take the steps required to reach the goal and may the way to do that always be in our sight. We also want all to know this and that becoming a Christian is not making a new start in life but it is receiving a new life to start with and that is accepting our Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for your daily guidance. In Jesus' name! Amen!




© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business! 2020

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