A Call to Repentance
Sharon W. Betters
TODAY’S TREASURE
Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you (Hosea 10:12).
Dear Friends,
By now, you know the little book of Hosea is a source of sadness and, at first glance, gives no hope to the reader. Hosea grieves over Israel and cries out to God for mercy. Will the Israelites repent? When I was younger, the Old Testament stories didn’t seem very hopeful. The prophets brought down fire and brimstone, warning the Israelites of God’s coming wrath. But one Sunday, Chuck talked about how the prophets were an instrument of God’s grace. God did not abandon His people but instead pursued them with His covenant love, as He promised He would. Yet the Israelites dug deeper, flaunting their sin, just as Gomer did.
Most children don’t think their parents love them when they are being disciplined. How many teenagers have screamed, “I hate you!” when their parents lay out house rules with punishments for disobeying? God’s people react the same way to God’s call for holiness. They did not recognize God’s love at first. God kept sending Hosea, even using Hosea and his errant wife as a picture of what His grace looks like.
Barbaranne closes this overview of Hosea with these words:
This, my friends, is the magnificence of Hosea. By showing us the inescapable and hopeless darkness of our plight, the glory of God’s grace in salvation shines all the brighter. Thus Paul, writing of the grace that was given him to preach “the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God,” in his next breath shares that the purpose of the gospel is “that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:8-11). God did not look at us in our sin and see “potential.” He didn’t see an atom of deserving. He didn’t see a “darling wretch.” He saw a rebel, an enemy, a whore. We are therefore trophies of God’s glorious grace. Through our salvation, his bewildering and compassionate wisdom is displayed to all the universe, and the angels and the demons stand amazed. Saving a wretch like me, and like you, is always and everywhere “to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:14). (Barbaranne Kelly, Daily Treasure, Saturday)
This is amazing grace!
Treasured by Him,
Sharon
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
As we begin the last week of our time with Hosea, let these words remind you that no matter how deep our sin or distance from the Lord, He pursues us and offers us His amazing grace.
"This Is Amazing Grace"
Phil Wickham
Who breaks the power of sin and darkness? Whose love is mighty and so much stronger? The King of Glory, the King above all kings. Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder, And leaves us breathless in awe and wonder? The King of Glory, the King above all kings.
This is amazing grace This is unfailing love That You would take my place That You would bear my cross You laid down Your life That I would be set free Oh, Jesus, I sing for all that You've done for me
Who brings our chaos back into order? Who makes the orphan a son and daughter? The King of Glory, the King of Glory.
Who rules the nations with truth and justice, Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance? The King of Glory, the King above all kings.
This is amazing grace This is unfailing love That You would take my place That You would bear my cross You laid down Your life That I would be set free Oh, Jesus, I sing for all that You've done for me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.
For more from Daily Treasure please visit MARKINC.ORG.
Originally published Sunday, 31 July 2022.
SHARE
