December 10, 2006 - Hosea 1-4 and Revelation 1
One way we can benefit from reading the Bible is to try to put ourselves in the place of the person who is writing and to ask ourselves if we would be willing to do what they did. I believe that is especially true of Hosea and John. These men received great blessings from God, because He knew they would be faithful to do what he asked of them. Does He know the same about you?
Hosea was called on to take a wife, who was a harlot. This was not a meaningless command. It was to illustrate how God was married to a people of spiritual harlotry, and yet, He still loved them. Hosea must have been a man of great faith to marry Gomer, and then, to name his children exactly what God said. How many of us would have said no to God? We would have said that we would marry who we wanted and name our children what we wanted to name them. If that is our attitude, we will miss some of the best blessings from God. We are not really living a life of faith. God spoke to Israel as much through Hosea's life as through his words, and that is how it is with us, too, whether we realize it or not.
John was on the island of Patmos for the Word of God and the testimony he had of Jesus. (v.9) Because of his faithful life, he was the one God chose to see the resurrected Christ in His glory and to hear Him speak, so that he could write this book. God knew He could trust John to be faithful in this assignment. Therefore, John not only saw Jesus, but the throne of God, and many future events. What a blessing! It came to John because of his faith. Is God pouring out His blessings on you, because He knows He can count on you to trust Him? If not, you can change that today. You can decide to live by faith and not by sight. It is by far the best way to live.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Hosea 5-8 and Revelation 2.
Hosea was called on to take a wife, who was a harlot. This was not a meaningless command. It was to illustrate how God was married to a people of spiritual harlotry, and yet, He still loved them. Hosea must have been a man of great faith to marry Gomer, and then, to name his children exactly what God said. How many of us would have said no to God? We would have said that we would marry who we wanted and name our children what we wanted to name them. If that is our attitude, we will miss some of the best blessings from God. We are not really living a life of faith. God spoke to Israel as much through Hosea's life as through his words, and that is how it is with us, too, whether we realize it or not.
John was on the island of Patmos for the Word of God and the testimony he had of Jesus. (v.9) Because of his faithful life, he was the one God chose to see the resurrected Christ in His glory and to hear Him speak, so that he could write this book. God knew He could trust John to be faithful in this assignment. Therefore, John not only saw Jesus, but the throne of God, and many future events. What a blessing! It came to John because of his faith. Is God pouring out His blessings on you, because He knows He can count on you to trust Him? If not, you can change that today. You can decide to live by faith and not by sight. It is by far the best way to live.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Hosea 5-8 and Revelation 2.