Refreshing Dew: Devotion for Saturday February 29, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday February 29, 2020

Topic: Refreshing Dew                       

Text: Hosea 14:4 – 7

This chapter of the book Hosea has a call to repentance and the unprecedented blessings that will follow if Israel obeys the call. A survey of this chapter has it that Hosea 14:1 – 3 is the call while verse 4ff is the response God will give when they repent. There are some lessons for us in this chapter.

a)       There is the need to acknowledge our sins (1 John 1:8 – 10, Psalm 51:1 -12). Lenten season should be used to assess our spiritual life and relationship with God and humanity. It takes humility and honesty to recognize and admit our weakness because it is difficult for some people to admit and acknowledge their shortcomings and faults. This is largely due to self in Man. If it is so with you, repent and ask God to help you out.

b)       There are blessings when we confess our sins (Hosea 4:4 – 9; Proverbs 28:13 & 1 John 1:9). One of those blessings of repentance is in our text for the day. God assures that He will be a refreshing dew to Israel when they turn from their evil and return to Him. Refreshing gives new strength. When you repent, God will renew you and bestow great blessings upon you.    

Food for Thought: Repentance is a guarantee of refreshing dew from God upon us.

Memory verse: Job 29:19

Prayer: God, grant me the spirit of humility and honesty to always admit my weaknesses and fault and also repent of them in Jesus name.

God’s Love For The Unfaithful: Devotion for Wednesday October 12, 2016

God’s Love For The Unfaithful: Devotion for Wednesday October 12, 2016

Text: Hosea 2:13 – 23         Memory verse: Hosea 2 verse 19

In the book of Isaiah chapter five, we have God’s lamentation of unfruitfulness of His vineyard, Israel. The nation of Israel is not only unfruitful but also unfaithful to God. The unfaithfulness of Israel to God is the central message of the book of Hosea. The book of Hosea is a love story, which is true, real and tragic, used to describe Israel and God. It tells of God’s love for His people and their response to Him.

In our text for today’s bible reading, is a marriage engagement from God to His loved one Israel. He had shown them righteousness, justice, unfailing love and compassion, not minding her unfaithfulness. Unfortunately, the Israelis failed God in all ramifications. They were easily enticed by the ungodly lifestyle of their neighbours who worship idols especially Baal. This action attracted God’s anger (Ezek. 15:8). The attraction to the worship of Baal started before they settled in the Promised Land. You can recall how Aaron made the golden calf in the wilderness to reflect the gods some other nations worship. Idolatry had been a long time problem with the nation Israel.    

Ironically, all efforts made by God to draw them back seem fruitless. However, He was not willing to let His chosen ones go like that hence this message from Hosea. Today, many of us have been unfaithful to God in many areas of our lives and relationship with Him. Don’t just jump to conclusion that you are not. Rather, search your conscience and find out the areas you have been unfaithful and repent of them. Remember what 1 Jn. 1:8 says. God’s decision here is a challenge for us Christians who will not want to forgive our enemies. Do we show compassion to those who are unfaithful to us? We should be considerate and compassionate on all who ‘offend’ us and love them. We are called to be like God (1 John 3:1 & 2). God forgives us not by our own merit but by His grace (Romans 5:8 & Galatians 2:5). Are you will to accept that forgiveness He is offering you today?

Food for Thought: How faithful are you to God as required in the New Covenant with Him?

Prayer: Almighty God and my Father, help me to be faithful always to you in all things in Jesus name.

He Stooped to Fed Us: Devotion for Monday July 18, 2016

HE STOOPED AND FED US: Devotion for Monday July 18, 2016

Text: Hosea 11:1 – 7                

Memory verse: Hosea 11 v 4 – I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love, and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them.

God had always loved Israel as a parent loves a stubborn child, and that is why he would not release Israel from the consequences of its behaviour. The Israelites were sinful, and they would be punished like a rebellious son brought by his parents before the elders (Deut. 21:18–21). All through Israel’s sad history, God repeatedly offered to restore the nation if it would only turn to Him which they did not accept because of their stiff neck. God’s discipline requires times of leading and times of feeding. Sometimes the rope is taut; sometimes it is slack. God’s discipline is always in form of love and its object is always the wellbeing of His people. Hosea 11:4 is an appropriate image of God's deliverance of Israel from the Egyptian yoke, and of His feeding them in the wilderness.

The recall of God's goodness and tenderness towards us in the days of our spiritual darkness and weakness ought to keep us very humble and very near to His mercy-seat. It ought to make us more humane and ever willing to respond to His love for us. God’s love for us is great. It is far beyond problems and troubles of life. Unfortunately, most of us do not seem to understand this. Our assumption is that God’s love is never seen in our problems and troubles. When He allows us to go through trouble, it is His way of making us to recall His love for us. God uses various ways to discipline us. He feeds us by making provisions for us. He brought down the food of angels for His people to eat (Psalm 78:25). Do you lack food for the day, God will provide for you. Keep trusting Him because He is a great provider.

Food for Thought: {He is a great provider (a great provider)} 2x. He will surely provide for me, a great provider.

Prayer: 1. God, the great provider, provide for me all that are necessary for my physical and spiritual well being in Jesus name. 2. In your love O Lord, remember the needy and those who don’t have food for this day.