Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

Amazing Love!

This entry was posted on 05-14-2007 and is filed under Devotional.

"I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him [Israel]" (Hosea 14:4 NKJV).

This is my favorite passage in Hosea. In this book God asks Israel to return to Him - 15 times! Hosea was commanded to marry a harlot. When she was unfaithful to him, God told him to take her back and love her again. This was so Hosea would know how God felt about unfaithful Israel. "How can I give you up?" (11:8).

Backsliding is a terrible sin - an affront to God - but He will receive and forgive the penitent. He will love them "freely". That is amazing love! His anger will be turned away when He sees them coming back to him in authentic repentance. Three words that should echo in every backslider's hearts are these: "Return to Me." Have you grown cold in your love for the Lord? Return to Him. He will heal your sin and love you freely! That's simply amazing - amazing love!

Prayer/Praise: And can it be that I should gain an int'rest in the Saviour's blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! how can it be that Thou, my God shouldst die for me? (Charles Wesley)