May 14, 2013 God Awaits

Read Hosea 3-4 God Awaits Hosea 4:1-3 Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: "There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. 2 There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. 3 Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying. THE LORD longs for his people to respond to his love. He is the husband desiring his unfaithful wife to return to him; yet, his people turn their backs to him. Do you see Israel’s horrible sins? Then see how sin affects the natural world. “Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away.” Yes, sin affects the physical world. (Rom 8:20-22 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.) You see creation groan almost every day in natural disasters. Sin corrodes, infecting your soul and infecting all of God’s creation. How about you? Do you groan in your soul, longing for release from sin? Do you need peace and joy? Do you need to be saved? Then search your heart. See your sin. Give your sin to Jesus. Open your life to God’s faithful love. Israel refused, and they perished. It’s True! God awaits you.