December 7
Hosea 6:1-9:17 | PS 126:1-6 | Prov 29:12-14 | 3 John 1:1-15
The story goes according to W.A.Criswell, from his Expository Sermons on Galatians, "The Chancellor of the University of Glasgow introduced one day to the young men of that university, God's missionary, David Livingstone. When Livingstone stood up and walked to the front of the platform to speak to the group of university men, the students looked at him earnestly. They saw his hair burned crisp under the torrid tropical sun. They saw his body wasted and emaciated from jungle fever. They saw his right arm hanging limp at his side, destroyed by the attack of a ferocious African lion. When the students looked at Livingstone, they stood up with one accord in awe and in silence before God's missionary." Among the quotes of David Livingstone are, "If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all." "I am prepared to go anywhere, provided it be forward." "I will place no value on anything I have or may possess except in relation to the kingdom of Christ." The popular prosperity gospel preached today at some of the largest congregations worldwide is really no gospel message at all. Those of us who are called God's children will receive God's blessings but not as the world sees them. Our blessings are a life moving ever closer to our Savior. Our lives as His children will be full of trials to help us on the road to maturity, along with many disciplines as a loving Father will administer out of love to keep us on the right path.
Israel had been chosen by God, but we read in Hosea 9:1, "Do not rejoice, O Israel, with joy like other peoples, For you have played the harlot against your God. You have made love for hire on every threshing floor." Though they were grossly sinning, much of it stemmed from their spiritual adultery as they attached themselves to a host of false idols. God was incredibly patient with them, as He sent them prophets to warn them, tribulations to get their attention, but they would not get off the wrong path. Hear Hosea's call for repentance in Hosea 6:1-3, "Come, and let us return to the Lord; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise up, that we may live in His sight. Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth." The nation of Israel (the ten northern tribes) had now existed apart from the nation of Judah after the split under King Rehoboam for 250 years. Throughout this time they steadily declined as they worshiped false gods rather than the One True God. They were now on the brink of destruction as the prophet Hosea urged them to repent.
No Christian should ever say the words to God, "Why me". Instead as trials and tribulations come our way, we should instead say, "What am I to learn from these, Lord?" As we read through the various prophets, it is easy to see their messages of warning and impending doom as rather repetitive. Though redundant and repetitive, realize they were spoken over a long period of time. But if we were honest, as parents, aren't we repetitive as we try to get our messages through to our children who seem to be resistant to listening? Consider the Apostle Paul who said in 2 Corinthians 4:17, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." What Paul means by these "light afflictions" are revealed in 2 Corinthians 11:22-28, "...From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked ; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils in the waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles,..." When we read of Paul's light afflictions, our own don't seem quite as heavy as we often see them. Why these afflictions? We read in James 1:2-4, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." When we fall off the path, we do well to remember what is written in Hebrews 12:5-6, "And have you forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." We are not in a sprint but a marathon. May we keep our eyes fixed on the Lord as we allow Him to direct our steps.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: