A Scandalous Command
This past Sunday we started a brand new series in the complicated but beautiful Old Testament book of Hosea. Hosea is not easy. It is full of hard and heavy and at times disturbing imagery, but it also makes real the heart and character and love of God in powerful ways that we are praying will be deeply transformative for all who are willing to listen. This week- God’s scandalous command to Hosea.
We hope this teaching helps you wherever you are on your spiritual journey.
Reflection-
Do you choose God?
Do you see God as an overlord or loving Husband and Father?
Do you see your sin as idolatry/spiritual adultery?
Do you choose God?
Do you see God as an overlord or loving Husband and Father?
Do you see your sin as idolatry/spiritual adultery?
Additional resources-
For the series- Love Divine and Unfailing: The Gospel According to Hosea by Michael P.V. Barrett
Further Up, Further In-
Take time this week to reread Hosea 1 and use your imagination to ponder what it would be like to be Hosea. How would you feel if God called you to something like this? If God asked you to pursue and bless someone who had actively hurt you and broken your heart and vows and humiliated you? Imagine your spouse (if applicable) cheating on you? How would that make you feel? How would you react? What would you do? This is what we’ve done to God, and yet…Ask God to turn your feelings into a better appreciation of the effects of your sin but also a deeper amazement at the love of God for you; that He has done the opposite of what most of us would do and did it gladly with joy. Spend time worshipping God this week and just thinking about and sitting in His scandalous love.