Hosea 3 (Listen)
3:1 And the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.” 2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley. 3 And I said to her, “You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you.” 4 For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods. 5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the LORD and to his goodness in the latter days.
Devotional:
Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come with awe to the Lord and to his goodness in the last days. (Hosea 3:5)
Sometimes we make wrong decisions before we realize what we really need. The people of Israel chose to follow evil rulers and foreign gods, and it ended in their own destruction. If law is the basis of salvation, everyone falls short, but in Jesus, his righteousness becomes our righteousness and salvation becomes accessible and free through faith. No longer do we fear God’s wrath, but instead we are in awe of His goodness. Are you afraid you’ve outsinned the grace of God? Take heart–Jesus has made a way! Take time today to stand in awe of the goodness of our great God!
Pray It: Father, thank you that your grace is bigger than my sin. May this reminder of your grace not only free me from the burden of guilt because of sin but also lead me into obedience as I remember your goodness and thus the goodness of your commands. Amen.
Share it: Who can you share a verse or thought from this passage with today?