Hosea – Page 13 – I'm Following Jesus

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Thursday, July 20, 2017
Chapters: Hosea 8-14
Message: Avoiding Traps

Hello My Friend,

As Christian’s, the world will never understand our ways, they will never understand why we choose to remain celibate until we get married, why we choose to stay sober or why we choose Christ over riches, and for that reason we face a lot of challenges. In order to show us that we need to be dependent only on Him, God is going to allow some challenges in our lives. Satan will constantly entice Christian’s with false religion and hopes, and if our eyes are not on Christ we are going to fall right into the trap. However, should we fall into the trap, He will be there to help us out of it, if we call on Him. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” – I Corinthians 10:13.

Part of the challenge we face is trusting God when things are not going our way, if we choose to listen to our own reasoning we have a better chance at falling into that trap, and once we are in it it can be hard to get out. God expresses His anger toward Israel for doing things their own way, instead of consulting Him in their affairs, they chose to do things in their own reasoning, including appointing kings He did not appoint and making princes out of men He did not approve of, the result, a corrupt and wicked nation full of idols and false gods.

“They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off. Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency? For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces. They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt. For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.” – Hosea 8:4-6,13-14.

“how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?” There comes a time when it cannot be said that they have no idea what they are doing is wrong and claim they are innocent. A slew of charges were drawn up against Israel, idolatry, worshiping false gods, sacrificing their own children, and immoral living. God’s punishment, destroy the land, kick the Jews out of it, and remove Himself from their presence. These were not just ordinary people, these were His people, those who were supposed to be the example that the rest of the world were to follow.

“Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images. The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows. Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” – Hosea 10:1-2,5,10,12.

“Their heart is divided;” I think the one thing that angers God most next to a person rejecting Him is one who knows Him and leads a double life, they worship Him yet the world also. You cannot love God and the world at the same time, it will always lead to destruction. In the midst of their troubles as a nation, they never thought of seeking help from God, they put their trust in men, and the result of that was worshiping false gods instead of the One True God. While the judgment God placed upon them stood that did not stop Him from wanting to save them from it. God stresses His anger toward all of Israel, bit still pleads with them to turn to Him.

“The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial. Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.” – Hosea 12:2-6.

“Therefore turn thou to thy God:” Let me tell you, you cannot return to a place you never were to begin with, if you know Christ as your Saviour it is detrimental on you should you even try to go back into the world, He will not let you, not if you are grounded in Him. Everyone sins, everyone stumbles, some of us backslide, but Jesus will not let one of His completely fall away from Him if they belong to Him. That is what God’s grace is for, when we stumble, He is there, when we backslide, He will be there for us when we turn to Him. God encourages Israel to return to Him and He will heal them from the repercussions of their backsliding.

“O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.” – Hosea 14:1,4-7.

“they shall revive as the corn,” God does not stay angry at us forever should we backslide and fall into a trap of sin and who knows what else. We can expect chastenings and challenges to get us to return to His ways, but the most amazing thing of all, we will come out of all of this alive, even after we die. You see, since our salvation is not dependent upon our works, but our faith in Christ our soul is safe, in tact, and grounded on Christ. When our flesh gives out and we get to heaven, we get to await the day He returns to claim His throne, and that is when our bodies will resurrect into our glorified bodies, and we will receive immorality. “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” – I Corinthians 15:51-54.

Jesus Christ Magnified: Today, Jesus is revealed through the one who is the only Saviour (Hos 13:4). Jesus is the only one who can save us from our sins. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” – John 14:6.

Today’s Prayer: God, We come to you seeking Your direction in our lives. We ask for a humble and willing heart so that we can effectively endure the challenges we face. Lord, Absorb Your Word into our hearts so we walk uprightly and do justly. Let Your wisdom and Spirit that abides within us, guide us as we choose to walk in Your ways. Be our vision during the light of days and darkness of nights, whether we are waking or sleeping let us yield our all to You and wait patiently for You so that we do not fall into the traps of sin. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://readytofollow.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength