While We Were Yet Sinners
Sharon W. Betters
TODAY’S TREASURE
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
Dear Friends,
As we continue on our journey through Hosea with Barbaranne Kelly, we need to see ourselves in this little book. Barbaranne says:
“As I read deeper into Hosea, it causes me to flinch and recoil. I want to look away. The Israelites’ determination to sin and God’s impending judgment are just too awful. Like watching a graphic battle scene at the movies I want to hide my face until it’s over. But I must look. For the Israelites’ darkness causes God’s mercy in the gospel to shine all the more brilliantly. And their predicament is not unique to them.”
Their predicament is not unique to them. God sent His Son, Jesus, and while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!
I suspect some of our Daily Treasure subscribers carry a boatload of guilt for past sins, acknowledging their sinful choices, the pain their sins inflicted on others, and an inability to fix what they broke. You feel shame, regret, and a deep desire to make things right, but it’s too late. Rather than reveling in the forgiveness of Jesus, you do penance every day, trying to prove your repentance or wipe out your guilt. You are a child of God, you love Jesus, but you continue to try to earn your way, to force the Lord to accept you, love you more, and find you acceptable. It’s possible you know this is faulty thinking, and wrong theology, but you don’t know how to experience the full forgiveness Jesus offers because you see yourself as unworthy. Surely, you must prove your worth by “good living.”
The story of Hosea paints an entirely different picture. See and experience the love of God offered to the whore, Gomer, and recognize you are that whore, and God offers the same redeeming love to you that Hosea offered to his repeatedly unfaithful wife.
You may be one who doesn’t struggle with being good enough, terrified of what people will think if they really knew you. Instead, you revel in God’s love. The book of Hosea is for you as well. Let this story revive your faith and not only remind you of God’s unfathomable love for His church but specifically for you!
In this week’s devotionals, Barbaranne shows us through Hosea that God’s love is for salvation, yes, but also for everyday living. He not only saves us, He enables us to walk by faith. The process might be painful, but when we surrender to His pruning, we experience freedom. Allow the Word of the Lord to lead you to His place of freedom.
Treasured by Him,
Sharon
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
Are you doing penance for past sins? Do you exhaust yourself in every way in your attempts to prove to those who know your past that you are worthy of their approval? Take time to read the book of Hosea. Ask the Lord to open your eyes to those places where you are holding on to past guilt, and you are blind to His all-encompassing redemption.
Or does the Lord feel distant, His love waning, your passion for Him dying? Read Hosea and ask the Lord to show you His remarkable love in a book that seems so dark.
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, 24 July 2022.
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