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Gomer, Hosea, Christ

When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshiping other gods.” So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she became pregnant and gave Hosea a son.
Hosea 1:2-3 NLT
http://bible.com/116/hos.1.2-3.NLT

This isn’t Hosea finding a whore on his own and saying,  “God, make her mine.”  No,  many men have been enticed by their eyes and their flesh to chase after the harlots of this age that don’t even walk the streets,  but that peddle their bodies to men unknown from their own bedrooms over the Internet. And the same can be said for these foolish men who send indiscreet and inappropriate pictures to the daughters of God, who seek to commit incest with sisters in Christ who are to be another man’s wife. We don’t get to twist this passage into something that justifies sexual immorality, fornication, prostitution, exhibitionism, perversion – because it does not. These things are still part of the “shall not inherit the kingdom of God” that we find in Galatians 5.

No, this is God saying to Hosea that he will do as God instructs, even if Hosea is aware of the risks and danger and ridicule and embarrassment and betrayal that will come from marrying such a woman – He has to trust that God has a meaning and purpose that is more important than his own wants and concerns.

This is a different kind of faith than what is sold on TV and from behind so many pulpits that seek to make merchandise of the children of God. This isn’t a message about getting God to give you what you want now. This isn’t about living your best life now. This isn’t about God or His children participating in the ways the law breakers. This is a message about the obedience of a man of God to the calling and purpose set before him by God,  even when He knows the cost to himself will be great.

Yes, this is the life that Christ talks about when He says that we will face trials and tribulations and suffering in this life. This is the life that we hear about when we learn that we will be a peculiar people, strangers/foreigners walking through this world,  living lives clearly set apart from the ways of the world – even as we walk amongst the world and show them and teach them about Christ. And He tells us that the world cannot receive the Spirit of truth,  and that many will go to destruction,  and that if we stand faithful that we will face persecution.

Does this sound like a preacher trying sell worldly promises of prosperity in this life in order to fill the pews with dead bodies and his pockets to overflowing with their money? No,  this is about our God who searches for even one heart that truly seeks Him and wants to know Him and serve Him.

God doesn’t promise Hosea a faithful wife if he is obedient and faithful. And Good doesn’t promise us that those we love and help and serve will return or love with anything less than betrayal and treachery. Look at His example on the cross – He came to them with love and truth and they hated and crucified Him for it. And He tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him,  to not turn back, that true love is to lay down our lives for others.

This is not the sugary sweet half truths that get people excited and distracted by great entertainment and a charismatic teacher and a message that leaves them comfortable as the God of their own lives – that feeds philosophical ideals and life lessons,  but leaves them no closer to a godly, righteous life with Jesus as Lord of their lives, with His will being done in their lives. It is vanity, repackaged and sold religious materials sold by the DVD and book and thirty that bears the names of men,  and companies, instead of the name of God. It is the fleecing of the flock by the wolves, while Jesus told us that His disciples will feed His sheep (not feed off of them).

Hosea obeyed.

Hosea faced disappointment.
Hosea faced betrayal.
Hosea faced embarrassment.

Because his whore wife did what whores do, she committed adultery, she went to the only thing that she knew. Because Hosea knew God, but his new wife did not. There are many we will help and serve as followers of Christ who will hurt us and betray us, but it is not about us.

Yes, this is the hardest idol to lay down – self. It is not about you,  friend. It is about Christ who either lives in you or who is waiting for you to hear His call. And I’m not selling you rainbows and sunshine and lollipops – I’m saying, count the cost. If you believe Him,  then it is clear that there is nothing in this world worth your eternal soul,  no matter the trials and tribulations that you might face.

Then the Lord said to me, “Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the Lord still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and love to worship them. ” So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine.
Hosea 3:1-2 NLT
http://bible.com/116/hos.3.1-2.NLT

And after Hosea’s wife proved herself unfaithful and returned to her adultery – God didn’t tell Hosea that he had the legal grounds to divorce his wife. No, God tells him to go and love his wife again. And it even cost him to buy her back. This sounds costly, this sounds like sacrifice, this sounds like it would have been impossible for a proud man – and you’re right, but for a humble man,  submitted to God’s will it is just another act of faith.

And this act of faith wasn’t to build up or equip Hosea, or to buy Him any more love or favor from God who already loves Him fully – this act of faith was about being a clear find visible example of faith to a rebellious nation. Our acts of faith are meant to be a living testimony to a dark,  lost world – even when it has a cost – ESPECIALLY when it has a cost.

Yes, at some point,  we were Gomer and needed rescue by Christ (our personal Hosea). But if you are married to Christ in baptism,  and if He’s even bought you back from your rebellious ways with the Holy Spirit that lives in you – don’t we see that at some point we should be realizing that the world needs us to be more like Hosea? How many of us still think of ourselves as Gomer when He is telling us,

“You are forgiven, you are born again, you are no longer like Gomer, you are like Hosea. I have not only given you a new name in Christ, I have come to live in you and to bring life to the world by raising up my children. Stand up, Child of God – you are called to your pups and mission. You are no longer Gomer,  but I send you out to the Gomers of this world, like sheep among wolves. But I am with you always. Go and let them see Christ who lives in you.”

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Whole Truth = Truth, Half Truth = Lies

We are naturally most comfortable with a god of puppies and rainbows and smiles and celebration – but we have less real interest in a God that is righteous and holy and pure. We are more interested in taking and leaving truth as we see fit, trying to form an idea of our own personal god as something that is more comfortably familiar to ourselves and our ways. What a twist of the enemy, to explain away the beauty of Grace by offering an empty, powerless “heaven ticket redeemable at death” instead of “a new,  born again life transformed and renewed to walk with Christ alive in you today” – to offer the half truth of “freedom from the consequences of sin” instead of revealing the whole truth of “freedom to overcome sin in our life and walk in the Spirit not in the flesh”. But since the beginning, many have been more interested in seeing themselves as gods rather than yielding to the one true God.

“Come, let us return to the Lord . He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds. In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence. Oh, that we might know the Lord ! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”

“O Israel and Judah, what should I do with you?” asks the Lord . “For your love vanishes like the morning mist and disappears like dew in the sunlight. I sent my prophets to cut you to pieces— to slaughter you with my words, with judgments as inescapable as light. I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings. But like Adam, you broke my covenant and betrayed my trust.

“Gilead is a city of sinners, tracked with footprints of blood. Priests form bands of robbers, waiting in ambush for their victims. They murder travelers along the road to Shechem and practice every kind of sin. Yes, I have seen something horrible in Ephraim and Israel: My people are defiled by prostituting themselves with other gods!

“O Judah, a harvest of punishment is also waiting for you, though I wanted to restore the fortunes of my people.
Hosea 6:1-11 NLT
http://bible.com/116/hos.6.1-11.NLT

Don’t we know that the Lord chastens  the child that He loves? (Hebrews 12:6, Proverbs 3:12, Revelation 3:19)

Don’t we know that the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin,  and righteousness,  and judgement? (John 16:8)

So if we are actively living in sin and aren’t convicted about it,  shouldn’t that bring about some kind of fear of God? Some kind of wisdom and understanding of the state and destination and preparation of our souls? Shouldn’t it shine light on our blindness, nakedness, and need for belief in our hearts, not just our words or thoughts?

Lord, help us to see you as you are so that we will be convicted to lay down those things in our lives that do not bring you glory and honor. Help us to believe in our hears and to know you and love you. We have broken your trust,  we have fallen short, but we trust in your promises, we confess with our mouths that you are our Lord and Savior, we believe in our hearts that you are our adopted heavenly Father, we serve you and love you with the living testimony of the sacrifice of our old flesh nature and desires – replaced by the annointing and overflow of your Holy Spirit that lives in us. You are the only way, the only truth, and the only life – and we come to the Father through you who have led us back home through the narrow gate and along the narrow path. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, God. Amen.

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Love your wife

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 5:25-33 NKJV

I want to be a great husband and father. I want to lead my family by my example of love. I want to be obedient to God. And I’ll be honest with you – most days, my greatest struggles are not with temptations, or my job, or with what I face in the streets/jails/rehab. The greatest challenge daily usually comes from within my own closest circle – either my family or those closest friends in my life.

Many times the greatest struggles are between our closest friends. Besides Jesus, I consider my wife to be my closest friend. But I have to admit that life inside our house is not perfect and without its tension, disagreements, and misunderstandings. When the Lord is calling us out into ever deeper waters, and we are making decisions constantly to swim against the stream of the ways of the world, and we are giving up on the very security and safety that our nature is used to craving – there is going to be tension even if that was just a single person being affected. But when it is a whole family – now you’re facing a challenge.

So how can we best deal with these situations? I like to look at how Christ treated people.

He asked questions and listened intently to see past any emotions, posturing, manipulation, and defensive behavior to hear the heart of their issue – so that He could address the root cause, not just the symptoms.

Christ offered His love and His guidance and was the leading evangelist,  teaching His disciples, His church, how to live a life more like Him. Discussions with Him would inevitably bring up convictions in the lives of those around Him over the things that weren’t yet yielded and that were self serving instead of honoring God and serving others – not because He was preaching AT them, but He was walking it out, and telling them, and showing them a right life.

When someone was willful and prideful, wanting to pull in a different direction that He knew was leading them to destruction, He was firm and bold – even to the point of direct correction – but even His correction had a loving purpose.  When someone was scared and of little faith, not yet trusting in God’s faithfulness to provide getting the need, and walking a doubt filled and powerless life, He was patient, gentle, and encouraging – but He still pointed out their doubt and their need to press in further. He didn’t crush anyone with direct judgement and condemnation, because the truth of His words spoke to them clearly and their own hearts either convicted them into new actions, or testified against their unwillingness to yield to His will.

Yes, He used discernment to see what was happening on the inside,  the underlying issue, and then He determined what fuel needed to be added to the fire. If someone was full of the darkness of bitterness, He would flame the fire of forgiveness, saying,  “Father, forgive them. They know not what they do.” If someone was full of the darkness of self interest and concern for their own plans,  He would flame the fire of sacrifice and service unto others. If someone was full of the darkness of worry and anxiety,  He would flame the fire of faith through offering either they lay down their heavy burdens at His feet or expect promised trials and testing that they cannot bear on their own. Yes, all of this to humble us, to remodel us, into a new creation that more and more resembles Christ.

And I’m supposed to show this kind of love towards my wife. And I’m supposed to lead my family in this same manner, making disciples of my children so that they can go out and bear their crosses and face opposition from the world. If we didn’t believe, we would laugh in the face of such nonsense and maybe settle for a Sunday morning religious practice to keep Good off of our backs so that we can spend our lives with the idol that we really love most, ourself.

But if we believe, there is work to be done daily. There is examination and guidance, and correction,  and firm leadership of the family that is expected from our fathers. There are difficult discussions and decisions that have to be has and made for the sake of our families – even in times where there is not yet agreement and unity, we must stand up and lead in love.

And we must learn to care enough about our families not to drag them along kicking and screaming, but to identify what they need and determine how we can best fill that need. To realize that what we think that we want is not always the same as what we need and what is best for us. We as fathers must strive to determine the true needs, and to provide for their needs, to make sure that an outpouring of His nourishing fruit is being fed to our families daily.

Love is not all puppies and balloons and cakes and ice cream. It takes work and sacrifice – and sometimes the very people you love and are trying to help would be happy with nothing less than hammering the nails into you themselves to watch you “die on the cross of your self righteousness” – but as long as it isn’t self righteousness and your only righteousness comes from Crust who lives in you, Jesus tells us –

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
John 15:13 NKJV

Lord, help us to feed our families with the fruit that they truly need from an eternal perspective, with a discerning eye, and with a loving heart. Amen.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
I Timothy 5:8 NKJV

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Planted. Growing?

Grace is the seed planted,
That is stirred to life by the Son,
That crashes open in the life of the believer,
As the shell of the old man is broken and torn apart,
By the new spirit and life that grows within.

Emotion can imitate grace,
Because there is a stirring,
Because there is a momentary interruption,
But the old man is not willing to tear his life apart,
And the trials prove that there is no life yet growing within.

Religious practice can imitate grace,
Because even though there is no stirring,
There is a building up of preparations,
And the old man tries to tear himself apart,
But is only deceiving himself under his own striving.

But grace received,
That wonderful annointing of the Holy Spirit,
That pours out abundantly and overflowing into the believer,
It sprouts forward in growth, in life, in hope, in faith, and in love,
And Christ can be seen shining through a new vessel,
Speaking through a new voice,
Rejoicing through new praises raised to God,
Worshiping through new acts of service at the feet of our fellow man.

You see,
The seed of grace,
It is meant to grow up into the glory of Christ.
Christ in you.
It is not powerless, but is powerful,
It is not impotent, but is full of love,
It is not enslaved to sin, but it is full of self control.
Grace alive is God’s glory growing and spreading,
And it starts in you and like the seed and pollen of a plant,
It spreads forth when it is present.
It cannot remain dead and dormant and lifeless,
It overflows hope and love for a lost world thirsting,
It overflows with righteousness and trust for the found saints hungering.

Grace is extended not as the completion,
But as the beginning of a journey towards glory.
The call to grow is the moment of the beginning of our journey,
Marked by repentance, confession, water, and blood,
And carried to its destination through hope, faith, and love,
And this life is either our living testimony or our dying testimony,
Of the destination that we are being prepared for.

Let the manure of that old man, of our flesh,
be sacrificed and left as fertilizer at the feet of the new creation.
Let us not just claim Grace, but realize Glory.
Let us not only claim Jesus Christ as Savior,
But proclaim Him as Lord over our lives,
Surrendering our will and plans and purposes and desires,
For the only prize and portion worth having.

Do you love Jesus’s Lordship as well as his Salvation?

Is His love alive in you today?

Are you ready to hand over your life to follow Him?

Do you love Jesus?

LOVE Him?

Or has the tale of the cross and the tomb grown dim and distant and forgotten in your heart?

Lord, breathe life into these dead bones. Heal our hardened hearts. Help us to fall at your feet and repent of our ungratefulness, of our empty religious practice, and of our complacency in the face of a world that is lost and headed to destruction along the broad way. Teach us to love again. Awaken the seed of your Grace, so that the world might know of your Glory. Amen.

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Why? How long?

We ask ourselves, why we face struggles in this life – why it seems like those who decide to serve and honor and love God and their fellow man are the ones who the world in turn uses and oppresses and mocks and robs and despises. We would expect the world to pity us for our mercy and generosity and kindness and love extended even to our enemies – if they were just men of heart and mind towards one another.

Why would the same man that we help and love, in turn hate us, just because we say that we’re doing it because of You, just because we want You to have all of the glory and honor and praise? Yes, this enemy whispers lies and hatred and evil and rebellion into the ears of so many that are blind, lost, naked, and far from the light of your presence, your breath, your life. Even those these trials will test and prove us,  Lord, how long will you be slow to anger?

Your saints are martyred daily in parts of the world by the sword. And even though the gates of hell do not prevail against your true church, your body of believers living with you as both Savior and Lord of their lives – imposters are rampant in gathering places that speak so many lies about you – even in your name! With false teachers abounding that seek to profit by twisting the Good News into something they can use to institute authority over others. Instead of offering service at the feet of others to feed the flock,  they feed off of the flock, making merchandise of your people.

This is not our doubt crying out, Lord, because we know that you are our only prize and portion – where can we turn but to the Lord? Yes, you tell us not to lean on our own understanding, but to follow faithfully with hope in things unseen. We are here, Lord. How long?

O God, why have You cast us off forever?
Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?
Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old,
The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed—
This Mount Zion where You have dwelt.
Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations.
The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.
Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place;
They set up their banners for signs.
They have set fire to Your sanctuary;
They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground.
They said in their hearts, “Let us destroy them altogether.”
They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.
We do not see our signs;
There  is no longer any prophet;
Nor is  there any among us who knows how long.
O God, how long will the adversary reproach?
Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?
Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?
Take  it out of Your bosom and destroy them.
For God is my King from of old,
Working salvation in the midst of the earth.
Psalms 74:1-4, 7-12

And we do not cry out how long because of our own burdens or weight. Because our love for you, our grattitude, our belief in the price paid – your grace planted in our hearts is sufficient. It is enough to daily quench the burning desire in our hearts to know you even closer and more fully, while the fire of your Holy Spirit presence is sufficient to set ablaze the world around us.  We long for revival,  for your people to rise up, for your army to push back those prideful enemies and traitors,  for everyone to praise your Holy name.

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Doubt? Hope?

The enemy is selling doubt to us loudly every day, while our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a still, quiet voice offering us a free gift of hope and love.

Distraction. Confusion. Lies. These are the ways of the enemy, who wants us stumbling blindly in the dark.

An upright direction, a dedicated life of purpose, and fearful respect for the truth of the Word of God as we walk in the light along this narrow path – this is what the Father wants for His children.

Truly God is good to Israel,
To such as are pure in heart.
But as for me, my
feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly slipped.
For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was vexed in my mind.
I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but  You?
And there  is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Psalms 73:1-3, 21-26 NKJV

In this world, we see what appears to be evil triumphing every day. We see those who are wicked and evil and who oppress others rise to power and prosperity. We see false teachers selling lasciviousness and worldliness prospering and drawing large crowds together to be fleeced do that the wolves can grow rich and fat off of their followers. If we judge only by what our eyes can see in this fallen world, it seems to be a strong case that the accuser has laid out against God, and seems like our advocate, our defender is backed into a corner by the mountain of evidence.

But in a court of justice, the accuser speaks first and the accused speaks last. We can’t just throw in the towel because all we have seen so far is the evidence against us and against God. Hope is trusting in the things we have not yet seen come to pass. Yes, faith is knowing and trusting in what lies ahead.

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”  Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:24-29 NKJV