KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Friday, September 16, 2016
Chapters: Hosea 8-14
Message: Depending On God’s Works
Hello My Friend,
True Christians find themselves trying so hard to live by the Word of God that we get from under God’s grace and get under the law. Let me tell you, the harder we try to live by what we believe God’s standards are the more we set ourselves up for failure. Yes, God does want us to live by His Word, but we must remember, we are under the law of grace, He wants us dependent on Him, and as we depend solely upon Him we learn what we really need to be doing and not what we think we ought to be doing. God wants us to shine Christ on the world, not false religion.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.” – Titus 3:5-9.
The Book of Hosea gives great emphasis on Ephraim as being the one corrupted, which is a person not a place, this is due to Jeroboam who was of the tribe of Ephraim, he was the one who split the nation, left God and had two golden calves made which he turned into gods/idols. A slew of charges were drawn up against Israel to name a few, idolatry, worshiping false gods, sacrificing their own children, and living wicked and immoral lives. God’s punishment, destroy the land, get the Jews out of it, and removing 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. For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us? 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. Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.” – Hosea 10:1-33,12-13.
“what then should a king do to us?” I grew up Catholic and had the mentality that no matter what I did I would end up in hell so I walked away for it and God for a long time. While God has His standards false religion takes things beyond that, some to the point that people are literally killing themselves to try and win God’s favor. God does not work that way, yes, He wants us to live moral lives, but the key, He wants us to live.
“My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.” – Proverbs 7:1-3.
Perhaps the reason we face so many challenges as Christians is because we feel neglected by God, when we lust for something that we are not getting it can be really easy to feel neglected by Him, and that is how we get under the law. God never neglects us, yes, if we are continually living in sin, He is going to step back and it may seem like He is neglecting us, but He never does. In reality, we neglected Him first, and let me tell you, feeling like you are being neglected by God leaves you brokenhearted, unwanted, and down right angry with them, but that is how God feels also about us. Through Hosea, God reminds Judah that they are not off the hook either.
“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.
“and wait on thy God continually.” God chastens those He loves, often that is stepping back to let is see that we need to be dependent upon Him and all times. Once we come to that realization we will see that everything we get us set on timing, God’s timing, if we wait for Him, staying faithful, and trusting Him we will see His hand in everything.
“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.” – Psalm 37:7-9.
Under Joshua, the tribe of Ephraim had taken a high position in the nation, and after the revolt of Jeroboam, the history of Ephraim became the history of the kingdom of Israel. The tribe itself became the strength of the nation, one that exalted itself over God. God reminds them that there are no other gods who can save them from their sins.
“Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me. I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me. Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them: I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them. O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.” – Hosea 13:4-9.
“for there is no saviour beside me.” You see, there is only one Saviour, there always has been only one, and today, He is in the form of Jesus Christ. God will in no way force Himself upon anyone, and He will certainly not beg a person to come to Him, but He will give nudges and warnings everyday. Why? He does not want to see anyone end up in hell. Unfortunately, even God pleads for so long, there will come a time when everyone’s chances are up, and if they are not saved there is no hope for them. In the midst of their troubles as a nation, the Israelites never thought of seeking help solely from God, they put their trust in men promoting false gods instead of the One True God. However, He still pleads with them, one more time to return to Him before it’s too late.
“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. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.” – Hosea 14:7-9.
“for the ways of the LORD are right,” In order to show us that we need to be dependent only on Him, God is going to place chastisement and suffering in our lives. Satan will constantly entice Christians with false religion and hopes, bringing them under the law of works and not of grace. However, as long as we abide in Christ we can live a godly and prosperous Christian life, that is, as long as we allow the truth of the CROSS to be our guide and yield to the Holy Spirit instead of our own flesh. We cannot see things change until we become completely dependent on Him.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” – John 14:6,12-16.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.” – Hosea 13:4
Today’s Prayer: God, There is no better feeling than accomplishing something great for You, and the thing that is great to You is merely living a godly life with You leading us. While we strive to be the best we can be, let us not forget that our best only comes as we yield to the Holy Spirit. Open our hearts, help us understand, and grow us into Christians under Your grace and not our works, seeing the blessings unfold all on their own as we come to a complete dependence on You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://imfollowingjesus.com/follow-Jesus.html
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
Copyright © 2016 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.