Morning 1

           Having grown up in churches and having (almost) finished a biblical studies degree at a Christian university, I'm already pretty familiar with most of the Bible.  So, rather than just "start at the beginning" and either begin my daily self-feeding regimen with Genesis or Matthew (or even John), I started with Hosea.  For anyone who's not familiar with the story, Hosea is a prophet who is told by God to marry a prostitute, and through his experiences (including the births of his children), Hosea is shown the adulterous way the kingdoms of Israel and Judah have treated God.

Honestly, it's pretty scathing.  There is a lot of condemnation and fault-finding.

So why did Israel and Judah fall away?  They chased after idols ... things they could see and feel and venerate.  They gave in to the trap of taking the easy path.  What is easier to worship, an idol or an Invisible God?  For them, they chose the idols.










What have my idols been?  Makes me think ...

I spend more time reading for fun than for self-improvement or -feeding.
I spend more energy trying to make myself comfortable than to make myself better.
I concentrate more passion on temporal, trivial concerns (like sports) than eternal, fundamental concerns (like my and my family's spiritual well-being).
I eat more than I pray.
And the list could continue, but I think that's a pretty good--or bad--start.



Pretty depressing!

And if the story ended there, it would be, but the final segment of Hosea's account is about redemption.  God says that He is going to send judgment, not to crush the wayward children, but to cause them to call out to Him so He can bring them back into the fold.

My favorite part of this book is how He says, "I say to those who are named "not mine," you are Mine!"

They chose to separate from Him, but He brings them back ... just like I want to get drawn back in close again.

Lord, ignite in me a fire that burns away the things that keep me from having a faithful relationship with You, so I can be safe and secure and blessed in Your arms.