OUR DAILY BREAD : COME BACK

[cimi]

September 29
Wednesday


COME BACK

READ:
Hosea 14
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I will heal their
backsliding.
__Hosea 14:4
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The people of Israel had backslidden, and God wanted Hosea to show them how much that hurt Him. So, in the first few chapters of Hosea, we read a bizarre story: God commanded the prophet to marry a prostitute named Gomer. Put on display as the faithful husband of an unfaithful spouse, Hosea experienced a pain similar to what God felt when Israel was spiritually unfaithful.

As Hosea wrote the ending of his book, he made it clear that despite the pain the people of Israel caused the living God, He still promised healing, forgiveness, and fruitfulness if they would return to Him: "I will heal their backsliding. He said. "I will love them freely.... Those who dwell under his shadow shall return" (Hos. 14:4-7).

Life for the person who turns his back on God is often characterized by guilt and dissatisfaction. The truly born-again believer who has fallen into a lifestyle of sin knows deep down that spiritual unfaithfulness to God takes a toll.

But just as the God of grace offered Israel forgiveness and fruitfulness, even so today He offers restoration to the truly repentant (1 John 1:9). Have you made poor choices that have caused you to slip away? Come back. Repent and seek restored fellowship with the Lord today. __Dennis Fisher
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`````````````````If you've rebelled and turned away```````````````
```````````````````From what you know is true,```````````````````
````````````````Turn back to God--He will forgive,`````````````````
````````````````His pardon waits for you. __Sper`````````````````
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It's not too late to make a fresh start with God.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Hosea 14***************

1 O Israel, return to the
LORD your God, for you
have stumbled because of
your iniquity; 2 take words
with you, and return to the
LORD. Say to Him, "Take
away all iniquity; receive us
graciously, for we will offer
the sacrifices of our lips.

3 Assyria shall not save us,
we will not ride on horses,
nor will we say anymore to
the work of our hands, 'You
are our gods.' For in You
the fatherless finds mercy."

4 "I will heal their
backsliding, I will love
them freely, for My anger
has turned away from him.

5 I will be like the dew to
Israel; he shall grow like
the lily, and lengthen his
roots like Lebanon. 6 His
branches shall spread; his
beauty shall be like an olive
tree, and his fragrance like
Lebanon. 7 Those who
dwell under his shadow
shall return; they shall be
revived like grain, and grow
like a vine. Their scent shall
be like the wine of
Lebanon.

8 "Ephraim shall say,
'What have I to do anymore
with idols?' I have heard
and observed him. I am like
a green cypress tree; your
fruit is found in Me." 9 Who
is wise? Let him understand
these things. Who is
prudent? Let him know
them. For the ways of the
LORD are right; the
righteous walk in them, but
transgressors stumble in
them.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Amos (760-750 BC) and Hosea (760-722 BC) ministered to the
northern kingdom of Israel during the final days of Jeroboam ll
(793-753 BC) as well as the nation's last six kings (752-722 BC).
Hosea prophesied for nearly 40 years, until the Assyrians destroyed
Israel in 722 BC. __SIM KAY TEE