Category: Uncategorized

SOW AND GATHER

Hosea 10:12

Sow to yourselves in righteousness;
Gather in the fruit of life;
Light for yourselves the light of knowledge;
Seek the Lord till the fruits of righteousness come upon you.

Personal Challenge

There are multiple times in the New Testament where we are reminded that we reap what we sow as well as if we sow abundantly, we will reap abundantly. Hosea encourages us to sow righteousness so that we can reap the fruit of life. Whether we are trying to love our neighbor or fight a battle on their behalf we can still do all in a righteous and loving way. This mindset and associated behavior keeps us above reproach. We are also encouraged to shine the light of knowledge based on wisdom from the Lord as we seek Him and we will see the fruits of righteousness come our way. Glory be to God!

SHOWING HUMILITY

Titus 3:1-2

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

Personal Challenge

Being a follower of Christ clearly presents us with challenges in living our lives. Here we see Paul instructing Titus, and all followers of Christ, to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing humility to all people. How do we do that when we are placed under an authority that is truly demonstrating a disdain for God and His precepts by their actions and edicts. This has been a dilema throughout the history of Jesus’ Church. It has resulted in centuries filled with martyrs for His truths. We can be involved in social dissent, as long as we do it in a godly way and especially when it is to support those who cannot defend themselves, the widow, the orphan, the naked, the poor, the alien amongst us, all who are images (icons) of Christ in His last judgment parable (Matthew 25:31-46). We must be ready, however to accept the sacrifice that this my incur, even up to martyrdom for our God. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Saint of the Week
St. Gregory of Nanzianzen

MERCY NOT SACRIFICE

Hosea 6:6

For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God
More than whole burnt offerings.

Personal Challenge

Once again, people that say they are worshipping God have entered into the state where they are spending more time and resources on the trappings, the traditions, that they have built rather than God. The people of Israel did that throughout the Old Testament and God kept trying to correct them. For Him it is not about the things that we do to show others how Godly we are. What are some of those things. Attending more religious services and acting all pious. Demanding that the 10 commandments be posted everywhere. Pursuing a nationalistic expression of biased beliefs. These are just a couple of examples. God wants us to show the world His love and mercy by being loving and merciful. He wants us to be as “woke” as Jesus was. Read about Jesus if you disagree with that. He does not want sacrifices and burnt offerings (religious activities). He wants mercy, love, compassion, and our actions in these areas to our neighbors. Lord, have mercy! Lord, here mercy! Lord, have mercy!

APPEARED TO ALL MEN

Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Encouraging Words

Our God, the Creator of all, the triune God, has appeared to all people throughout all time. He continues to reveal Himself to us. It is up to us to open the eyes of our bodies, minds, and hearts to see Him. In His appearance He has taught us how to live sober, righteous, and god lives looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of His Son, Jesus Christ. We can see Jesus in our neighbor, every person that comes in to our life, as we see them as created in the image of God. If we desire to see Christ in a way that leads us to be zealous for His good works then we need to do as He commanded us, and love our neighbor…all of them. Glory be to God!

KNOW AND PURSUE

Hosea 6:3

Let us know, let us pursue
That we might know the Lord.
We shall find Him ready as the daybreak,
And He will come to us
As the early and latter rain to the earth.

Personal Challenge

Tertullian (AD 160-225)taught that this verse
pointed forward to the myhorbearing women
going to the tomb of Jesus to find that He
was no longer there. They knew Jesus intimately
and were pursuing Him even though a
expected to find Him dead in the tomb. hey just
as the daybreak springs forth every morning as it
has since the beginning of time, Jesus springs forth
to those who know Him and pursue Him. We do
not find Him in legislation or elected officials. We do
not find Hin in the pursuit of wealth and prestige.
We find Him by loving Him, knowing Him, and loving and
taking care of our neighbor Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of God have mency on me, the sinner?

OBEDIENCE

Titus 2:9-10

Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

Personal Challenge

Paul, who earlier in this epistle identified himself as a bondservant to Jesus Christ, continues to exhort Titus, and us, to be obedient to those who are over us. We do not have bondservants today but we do enter into agreements where we submit to others whether it be employment or membership in an organization. As followers of Christ there are godly ways for us to be living under another’s governance. This part of Titus teaches about these ways. This does not prevent us from leaving these situations when they become abusive or ungodly. Glory be to God!

Hosea 2:19-22

“I will betroth you to Myself forever;
Yes, I will betroth you to Myself
In righteousness and justice,
And in mercy and compassions.
I will betroth you to Myself in faithfulness,
And you shall know the Lord.
“It shall come to pass in that day,” says the Lord,
“That I will listen to heaven,
And it shall listen to the earth.
The earth shall listen to the corn,
And the wine, and the oil;
And they shall listen to Jezreel.”

Encouraging Words

Hosea is a very intriguing book in the Old Testament. God tells His prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute who then continues to go on about her business until she is destitute and cast out by her society. Hosea loves her through all of this and ultimately restores her as a beautiful woman, wife, and mother of their children. Hosea’s life is a metaphor to the people of Israel about God’s love for them as they prostitute themselves to the god’s and traditions of the world around them. God loves His church, His Bride, dearly . Even as His church throughout history has turned her back on Him and joined themselves with the ways of the world, He continues to wait for us, long for us, desire us to turn back to Him, Where are we today in this story? Lord, have mercy! Loud, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Titus 2:6-8

Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

Personal Challenge

Paul challenges Titus, and all the rest of the followers of Christ, to be sober-minded and in all things to show ourselves to be patterns of good works and in our doctrine that we follow to show integrity, reverence, incorruptability, and sound speech that cannot be condemned. We are to do this so that whomever is our opponent may be a shamed and have nothing evil to say about us. We are to be above reproach and clearly demonstrating the truths of our Lord Jesus Christ. If you see someone proclaiming to be a Christian and not striving to meet these characteristics then feel free to question the fruit of their lives. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!