Redeeming Love

Posted on by Matt Parker


“Afterward the Israelites shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; they shall come in awe to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.” – Hosea 3:5


TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING: Hosea 1-3
 
I love my parents! I am grateful for their love and their grace! As a former teenage boy and college kid, I had my fair share of foolishness and idiocy. Yet through it all, my parents love for me was constant. I can remember the day when I was in college and it occurred to me there was nothing I could do that would make my parents not love me.

Love does not always equal approval. Love does not always equal agreement. Love does not always equal harmony. There are times when love can be difficult — especially when the one we love continues to be disobedient and turn away from us.

In Hosea, we discover the story of Hosea and his wife Gomer, who is unfaithful to her husband. The love the Hosea has for his adulterous life is an illustration of the love that God has for Israel. As you read Hosea, think about theexpression of God’s redeeming and restoring love for a nation that has been disobedient. It’s the same type of love that God still has for us today. No matter how many times we turn from God, God is always there to take us back because God is love!

This Sunday, we will look a familiar story from Daniel as we study Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego, and discover what it means to have strong faith in the midst of the fiery moments of life. Have a great weekend and I look forward to being with you in worship online beginning Sunday at 8:45 AM and on campus at 9:30 an 11:00!

Grace and peace,
Matt

P.S. Please be in prayer for those affected by Hurricane Laura this past week. If you would like to know how you can help, we encourage you to make acontribution to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). UMCOR volunteers are often some of the first responders and remain on site through the recovery and rebuilding efforts. For more information about UMCOR, visit their website at UMCOR.org.

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