post 3

Hosea 3, when I first read it, made me cry. 

Hosea Redeems His Wife

The Lord said to me,
“Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man
and is unfaithful to you,
even as the Lord loves the children of Israel,
though they turn to other gods and love themselves.” 
 

So I bought her.

And I said to her,
“You will dwell as mine for many days.
You shall not play the adulteress, or belong to another man;
so will I also be to you.” 
 

For the children of Israel...
shall return and seek the Lord their God,
 and they shall come in fear to the Lord
and to know His goodness.

 Go again.  Go again, Hosea.  Do it again.  Forgive her again.  Yes, she is being unfaithful.  Yes, she loves herself.  Yes, she runs from you.  Yes, all of that is wrong, Hosea, but go again.  Go forgive her.

Oh, and she must bought.  With your own money, go buy your wife back.  Don't go in anger, don't retaliate.  Go and keep your commitment to her and remain faithful, even though she has not.  Be good to her, Hosea.  And go redeem your wife.

That, friends, is unconditional love.  Hosea did not love his wife based on her faithfulness or love to him.  God does not love me based on my faithfulness to Him.  He doesn't give me one chance, and then back out.  Or two chances.  Or three.  He comes again.  He loves me again.  He shows me His goodness again.  And He will continue to do so forever

What a picture of the cross!  And what an amazing, passionate reminder that "by grace you have been saved and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God."