What Great Love

My favorite love story is one of great love and restoration. It is found in book of Hosea. The Lord instructs Hosea to marry a prostitute and he obeyed. Time after time, Gomer became pregnant with children from her adulterous affairs. Hosea's heart toward her never changed.

I believe, even though she was the wife of a man that loved her dearly, she never saw herself as he saw her; worthy of love and affection.

Could it be that Gomer's past relationships, abuse, and failures continued to dictate her decisions and quest for love from all the wrong places? When she was about to be sold back into bondage, the Lord spoke to her husband in Hosea 3:1a: “Gomer has many lovers, but you must continue loving her. Do this because it is an example of the Lord’s love for Israel. He continues to love them, but they continue to turn to other gods”. So he found and redeemed her once again.

The Lord used Hosea's faithfulness to express his love and faithfulness towards us. Our unfaithfulness to him causes his heart to ache much like Hosea's. In the midst of our betrayal he never stops loving us. He fights for our protection even when we disown him. He provides for our needs even when we neglect him. He leads and guides us, even when we fail to obey his voice.

Oh what great love he has for us as his children! He redeemed us through the blood of his dear Son. The love we receive from others cannot compare to the great love the Lord has shown towards us.

Father, we repent for taking your love for granted. No greater love will we ever experience than the love of our Heavenly Father. Teach us to love like you love; to forgive like you forgive. Teach us Lord, to see the best in those around us. Thank you for counting us worthy of redemption. In Jesus' name, amen.

Throughout the Day: Be intentional. Ask God for specific ways that you can share his redeeming love with people who don't yet know it.

Additional Resource: Consider reading Francine Rivers' fantastic novel, "Redeeming Love", based on the book of Hosea.