Choosing Blessings

O. T. #2067  "Choosing Blessings"

Nov. 15, 2021

Hosea 14-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! (Psalm 107:8,15, 21,31)

Do you know that the word wonderful means marvelous; miracles; great in the Hebrew language?

What miracles had God done for you lately? Have you seen or felt His marvelous and great working in your life last week?

God gives me eyes that continue to see the beauty of His creation, those orange, yellow, red, and green leaves on local trees. How marvelous is His works!

As I spoke of previously, I had a colonoscopy Monday. I thank God for His goodness in keeping me from throwing up the prep drink and for His wonderful works in that there were only 2 polyps for the doctor to remove. How grateful I am for my gastroenterologist!

How about you, friend? What wonderful works has God done in your life lately? Would you share with us?

LET IT GROW

I found an old Sunday School lesson on this chapter. It gave the main ideas of: When God's Words become our words (verses 1-3); When God's blessings become our blessings (verses 4-7); When God's ways become our ways (verses 8-9).

Like Israel, may Christians have wandered away from God. They need to know they have hope for forgiveness and restoration to a right relationship with Him-but they must come to God on His conditions.

When we stop attending worship services and our behavior displeases God, we may feel guilty. We need encouragement and love to leave the mess in our life and get back on track with the Lord.

Israel had backslidden and slipped away from God, but He was willing to heal them. Do we realize when we make a blunder of our life and need to return to God through repentance? Perhaps we know someone in that condition spiritually. Reassure them that Jesus still loves them and will welcome them back with open arms.

Are we doing what God's Word says? Are we reading the Word daily and praying? Or has something taken the place of God?

Look at verses 4-7. God gives us some "I will's":

• He will heal backsliders. (Israel will repent of their sins during the Millennial Reign of Christ and recognize Him as the Messiah.)
• He will freely love them.
• He will turn His anger away from them.
• He will be as the dew so they grow as flowers. (They will be beautiful and productive for God.)
• He will cast forth His roots in Israel. (They will be stable and durable.)
• His branches will spread over them. (They will be firm and bountiful.)
• His smell will be over them as the olive tree. (No stench and scar of idolatry will be present, but removed.)
• His shadow will give them safety.
• He will cause them to grow (in faith and obedience) as corn.
• He will revive Israel and their fragrance will be as the wine of Lebanon. (Their sin will be dwelt with and they shall be cured.)

Hosea mentions Lebanon 3 times. Israel will again become a rich and fertile land under God's blessing and nourishing care. How grateful we are that God receives us, restores us, and revives us.

I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life.  (Deut. 30:19)

What a time of restoration! Isn't it marvelous when a straying child of God comes back to Him! It is a blessing, for sure! As long as they are alive, there is hope of repentance. continue to pray for our loved ones.

LET IT GO

Help us to serve You obediently, not disobediently, with our life.

May our decisions be wise and not foolish.

Let us choose God's ways and not our way , nor the way of the world.

Keep us on the right path, the Lord's path, the straight and narrow.