Daily Bible Study

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Day 7 Hosea 7 Hosea 7:1 When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief comes in, and the troop of robbers spoils without. 2 And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face. 3 They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. 4 They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceases from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened. 5 In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners. 6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleeps all the night; in the morning it burns as a flaming fire. 7 They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calls unto me. 8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. 9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knows it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knows not. 10 And the pride of Israel testifies to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this. 11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. 12 When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard. 13 Woe unto them! For they have fled from me: destruction unto them! Because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me. 14 And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me. 15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me. 16 They return, but not to the Most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt. You know people who won’t listen to reason, no matter how much you try to make them understand a situation. It’s like expending hot air, as they continue doing things their way. God told Hosea, he had done all he could, even redeemed Israel, yet they continued to sin against him. They sought Egypt instead of God, and he sent them to Assyria, into captivity. As Christians, you too are not without fault, as you go about your life, saying you’re a Christian, but not acting like it. You go to church, spending an hour with God each week, and call it doing your duty as a Christian. All it is, is lip service. You are no better than Israel, who considered themselves God’s chosen people, yet went after idols, uncaring about the consequences of their behavior. Remember the day you accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord? Remember how you committed your life to him, saying you would be obedient to him? What happened? Did you change your mind about your commitment? You can’t spend one hour with God a week, and live like the devil the rest of the week. You need to renew your commitment to God and your Lord Jesus Christ. Not all Christians have a mediocre walk with God. Some are strong Christians, and would not consider walking away from their faith, living any way they want to. They have a testimony on their lives that rings in the courts of heaven. Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (KJV) It’s time for every Christian to renew their commitment, to acknowledge Jesus’ redemption of their lives, and give Satan the boot from their lives. It’s time for people to see there are people who truly love the Lord, and not just give lip service to God. Will you renew your commitment today? Will you spend time in Bible Study and Prayer every day, not just one day a week? Will you seek God for answers instead of going to your friends first? Jesus is waiting for you with open arms. Let’s pray: Father, thank you for loving me, and seeking me when I stray. Help me keep the commitment I made to you the day I called you Lord. Let my life be a reflection of your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 21 February 2018 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay