Everlasting Love

Tuesday, February 25



Hosea 3:1 (NKJV)
“Then the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.”
Devotion

In the movie, ‘Redeeming Love’, Michael married and loved a prostitute named Angel, despite the many times she was unfaithful to him, similar to the prophet Hosea’s marriage in Hosea chapter 2 of the bible. The prophet’s marriage, however, was used as an example to mirror the relationship between God and His people – for they were unfaithful to Him, chasing after other gods and worshipping pagan idols. They forgot Him, the One who truly loved them and pledged His care for them. 
 
God’s response to these adulterous acts was quite remarkable. (Hosea 2:14-17) He had every right to punish the infidelity, but true to His merciful nature, He isolated her (Israel) in the wilderness, and took her away from the paganistic lifestyle and worship of idols. He spoke tenderly to her there, to win her heart again, as in the days of her youth. He caused her to flourish in the Valley of Achor (meaning “Valley of Trouble"), and it was there in her trouble that she found hope. She would learn to call Him My Husband – out of covenantal relationship, and not My Master out of obligation. 
 
He betrothed her in this place, bearing the love in His heart for her. Hear His words spoken in Hosea 2:19,20: 
“I will betroth you to Me forever.” (I will pledge my love for as long as I live – which is forever.) 
  • “Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice.” (In moral uprightness, in purity, and in justice. I will not steal love. Instead, I will bind myself by legal covenant with binding promises.) 
  • “In loving kindness and mercy.” (kindness and tender love, with bowels of compassion) 
  • “I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness.” (steadfastness, fidelity. I will be faithful and will not love another.) 
  • “And you shall know the Lord.” (In personal, experiential knowledge of Yahweh, the God of Israel. He is not holding back. He wants to be intimately known by His people.)    

The culmination of their love is spoken in Hosea 2:23: “… And I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; Then I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ And they shall say, ‘You are my God!’ “     
         
“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward men appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7 
We love Him, because He first loved us.

Today’s Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You that You pursue me even after I have run away and sinned and turned my back on You many times. Help me never to see Your love or Your grace as a license to sin. Help me to grow steadily in faithfulness and goodness as Your Word and Your Holy Spirit transform me from one degree of glory to another. Show me if there are any idols in my life or any worldly things that I love or that I am in danger of loving. Purify me completely so that I can be spotless and blameless on the day you take me as Your bride. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Apply It Today

Having prayed that God would show you where there are presently idols or temptations for your heart to trust in something other than God, be watching and listening for God’s answer. If He shows you something, do not bristle but continue to work with the Holy Spirit to repent/return to the Lord. He loves you more and better than you can understand. 

Resources

  • Watch this message, “The Everlasting Covenant”, and be encouraged to learn about God’s covenant of love that can never be broken. 
  • If you haven’t already, add “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers to your book collection. This powerful novel, based on the story of Hosea, beautifully depicts God’s relentless love.