"You have received mercy..."

I was the book of Hosea today and was struck by the pure merciful love of God as I read it.

I recently finished the book Redeeming Love (yes I have read the book that suddenly everyone I know is freaking out about, but I had time to kill and actually really enjoyed it) and I was curious to read the story of the prophet Hosea again because of it. As I began reading it, I realized that I don't think I have ever actually sat down to read the whole thing or at least I don't ever remember taking anything away from it that changed my life radically. However this time was different...

Our Lord's love for his people is so unrelenting and we are so undeserving. In our unfaithfulness, he brings us into the most wild part of his creation and speaks tenderly to us. He gives us hope and peace from our inner and outer wars. He desires for us to call out to him "My husband", "love of my life". In this we will be a part of him as a bride is a part of her groom, bonded together forever in righteousness, justice, steadfast love, mercy, and faithfulness. (Hosea 2:14-18) He waits for the day that we earnestly seek his face, for he desires our steadfast love and knowledge of him over any physical sacrifice because we are in fact giving the greatest sacrifice we can offer: Ourselves. (Hosea 6:6)

I encourage you (and myself) with these words on this once again rainy evening...

" Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers as the spring rains that water the earth."
Hosea 6:3
"Sow for yourself righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you."
Hosea 10:12