Daily Devotional

When one studies the Word of God and you examine the lives of the many "witnesses" that have come before us, one thing always stands out: When God saved or redeemed a person it was always for a bigger cause. God saved Moses so that he could deliver Israel. God took Gideon out of the winepress so that he could save his people. God took the disciples out of their livelihoods to make them fishers of men. And so the story continues. God called you out for a purpose and a plan much bigger than you think. It is a plan that not only redeems you, but others too.

In todays text, we find ourselves studying the lives of two people; Hosea and the harlot he marries. You see, prostitutes were to be stoned to death for their misconduct. Why, then, would God tell Hosea to marry one who should be put to death?

Gods plan and Gods nature is not destructive. It is never to see people die in their sins. Jesus did not come to the world to prove that He is God. Neither did He come to entertain and redeem the Pharisees. He came to be a friend to sinners. You cannot take the light to where the light already exists. It has no impact there. You need to take the light to the darkness.

When we go back to todays text, we realize that before we were redeemed we also played the harlot. Today, we need to be Hosea. We need to be a people that will obey the voice of God with no reservations. Hosea put aside his own desires and needs; put aside the thoughts of pride and he surrendered to what God told him to do. He became a friend to a sinner, redeemed her, and loved her, "according to the love of the LORD towards the children of Israel."

You are called to a larger purpose — to be a saviour to this world; to reach out and touch the world with the love of Christ. Will you be the man Hosea, and heed the voice of God today? Will you be a friend to sinners today?