Life Journal, July 8, 2008
Today's readings: Hosea 13,14; Psalms 100, 102; Hebrews 5

Time to Return

Scripture

Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for your sins have brought you down. Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord. Say to him, "Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises. Assyria cannot save us, nor can our warhorses. Never again will we say to the idols we have made, 'You are our gods.' No, in you alone do the orphans find mercy."

The Lord says, "Then I will heal you of yoru faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever. I will be to Israel like a refreshing dew from heaven. Israel will blossom like the lily; it will send roots deep into the soil like the cedars in Lebanon. Its branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees, as fragrant as the cedars of Lebanon. My people will again live under my shade. They will flourish like grain and blossom like grapevines. They will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon.

"O Israel, stay away from idols! I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you. I am like a tree that is always green; all your fruit comes from me."

Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.

Hosea 14.1-9

Observation

God offers healing and life for the repentant.

Application [How will I be different today because of what I have just read?]

This would be an easy Scripture to just read and move on. But, it is powerful when I change it and personalize it.

"Return, Melinda, to the Lord your God, for your sins have brought you down. Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord. Say to him, "Forgive all my sins and graciously receive me, so that I may offer you my praises. No one else can save me, not even our instruments of war. Never again will I say to the idols I have made, 'You are my gods.' No, in you alone do I find mercy."

Today I need to pray this prayer--today I need to acknowledge the idols I have made. For if I start with myself--then maybe in time the church will do it . . . . and then maybe someday our country will be able to pray this. But today, it must begin with me.

Prayer

Father, forgive all my sins and graciously receive me, so that I may offer you my praises. No one else can save me. Help me to recognize all the idols in my life--all those things that come before You in my life--and turn away from them. Lord, I know that it is in You alone that I find salvation and mercy. Lord, I know that Your paths are true and right and that righteous people live by walking in them. Lord, help me stay on Your path.