The Slave block of sin
Hosea 3
Sin is degrading. It is debilitating and damning, and in the case of Gomer, we see that even worldly men take gain from it wherever they can. Hosea redeemed his beloved from the slave market; this depicts what Christ did for us, We were all slaves to sin, and subject to be auctioned off to the highest evil bidder, until Jesus redeemed us and became the ransom for our sin.
Long before mankind ever existed, before even the foundations of the earth, this plan of redemption was designed. It was designed by the Father, executed by the son, and empowered by the Holy Spirit; the three-fold work was accomplished by a triune God, and is ours today by grace. Yes, all three had a part in our redemption. How can such a thing be? Nothing is impossible with God. As Gomer’s sin lead her in a downward path, and she found herself on the auction block, but love bought her back! What love that should forgive betrayal; what love that overlooks the evils of the past; What love that redeems that which is considered unworthy, unredeemable; what love Jesus has for us! It is easy to see the likeness here; Hosea represents Christ, or rather one manifestation of the Father’s love, and Gomer represents us, the sinful adulterers who constantly stray, even to the point of infidelity to our God. Only godly love can love the unlovable; only God’s mercy can forgive the unforgivable; Hosea knew the true love of God, and it worked in him, and through him, to reach even unto Gomer. Did she repent? We do not know. Was she remorseful for her infidelities? We do not know, but Hosea didn’t care--he paid the price, and bought her back. She may not have walked in sweet fellowship with him after that, but he still did not abandoned her, though he had good reason to do so; he gathered her up in loving arms and made her his own. Did she ever stray again? We do not know, but Hosea loved her in spite of herself, and that is the message for us today from God--He loves us with an amazing love, a love that we cannot understand. What an amazing story Hosea has to tell; what an amazing thing, this thing called love.
Monday, July 29, 2013
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Finding Jesus
Finding Jesus
(In unexpected places)
We find Jesus all through the Bible, but mostly in the New Testament. There are many verses that, when we meditate on them, contain references to Jesus although we often fail to see Him in it. I offer a few for clarity:
Jesus is seen in Philippians 4:8;
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Who or what most fits into this verse the best? To dwell on heavenly things we must realize the Lord in them. Only Christ is all these in one; He is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report all the time, and in every way.
Another: John 14:1-4;
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
The preparation? Calvary! It is not a mansion He prepares for us, but a sacrifice. The mansions are already there! Christ went to the cross to prepare the way for us, and so we shall ever be with the Lord.
Consider also: 1 Cor. 10:13;
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Jesus is our “way of escape” from trials, fears, and tribulation, as well as temptations. Look to Jesus when tempted, He will see you through. Many have quoted this verse when going through trials, but little is said about the Deliverer who provides a way of escape.
Now go to Galations 5:22,23;
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Only our Lord can be measured by these graces; in Him exists the fullness of the godhead, which is the sum total of the fruit of the Spirit. These nine graces are to be emulated by us, within us, as we become closer to Christ, but it is only in Him that we receive anything at all.
Now look to 1 Cor. 13 in its entirety;
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
God is love, Christ is charity. Read the verses over and over, and you will see the beauty of the love and charity of Christ. Charity is love in action, and Christ exemplifies this over and above any one, or anything else.
The New testament shows our Lord in a more obvious way, but there are also passages and verses in the Old testament that clearly exemplify Christ. Perhaps later we will look at several of them also
(In unexpected places)
We find Jesus all through the Bible, but mostly in the New Testament. There are many verses that, when we meditate on them, contain references to Jesus although we often fail to see Him in it. I offer a few for clarity:
Jesus is seen in Philippians 4:8;
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Who or what most fits into this verse the best? To dwell on heavenly things we must realize the Lord in them. Only Christ is all these in one; He is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report all the time, and in every way.
Another: John 14:1-4;
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
The preparation? Calvary! It is not a mansion He prepares for us, but a sacrifice. The mansions are already there! Christ went to the cross to prepare the way for us, and so we shall ever be with the Lord.
Consider also: 1 Cor. 10:13;
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Jesus is our “way of escape” from trials, fears, and tribulation, as well as temptations. Look to Jesus when tempted, He will see you through. Many have quoted this verse when going through trials, but little is said about the Deliverer who provides a way of escape.
Now go to Galations 5:22,23;
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Only our Lord can be measured by these graces; in Him exists the fullness of the godhead, which is the sum total of the fruit of the Spirit. These nine graces are to be emulated by us, within us, as we become closer to Christ, but it is only in Him that we receive anything at all.
Now look to 1 Cor. 13 in its entirety;
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
God is love, Christ is charity. Read the verses over and over, and you will see the beauty of the love and charity of Christ. Charity is love in action, and Christ exemplifies this over and above any one, or anything else.
The New testament shows our Lord in a more obvious way, but there are also passages and verses in the Old testament that clearly exemplify Christ. Perhaps later we will look at several of them also
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