Hosea 5 -- Determined To Be Unfaithful

God had news for Israel – all the people, including the religious leaders, would be judged for their sins.  I’m sure this stunned the nation.  “You have done many evil things … I know all about the people of Israel; what they have done is not hidden from Me … They will not give up their deeds and return to their God.  They are determined to be unfaithful to Me.  They do not know the Lord … Israel went to Assyria for help (not to God) … I will attack them … Then I will go back to My place until they suffer for their guilt and turn back to Me.” 

We cannot love sin so much that we ignore God’s warnings about it, for presuming on His grace is a dangerous thing.  We cannot believe that He doesn’t know what we do.  And hearing Him say, “I will go back to My place until they suffer for their guilt and turn back to Me,” should fill our hearts with fear.

Father, I know that You know everything about me, even better than I know myself.  I know that You love me and want me sanctified, yet I constantly fight against the sin that infects this fleshly body.  I want obedience to You to become like a reflex action, not a struggle.  Guide me and keep me focused on You and not on the world.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford