DAILY DEVOTION - 25 OCTOBER 2020

Good morning. Peace be with you all. Rejoice in the Lord always. "I will love them freely." Hosea 14:4.

Insight

This sentence in Hosea can be compared to the phrase, “dynamite comes in small packages”. He who understands its meaning is a theologian, and he who can dive into its fulness is a true master in the Kingdom of God. It is a condensation of the glorious message of salvation which was delivered to us in Christ Jesus our Redeemer. The sense hinges upon the word "freely." This is the glorious, the suitable, the divine way by which love streams from heaven to earth, a spontaneous love flowing forth to those who neither deserved it, purchased it, nor sought after it. It is, indeed, the only way in which God can love such as we are. The text is a death-blow to all sorts of fitness: "I will love them freely." Now, if there were any fitness necessary in us, then he would not love us freely; at least, this would be a mitigation and a drawback to the freeness of it. But it stands, "I will love you freely."

Challenge

We complain, "Lord, my heart is so hard." We boast, "But I do not feel my need of Christ." We backslide, "I will not love you because you left me all alone". We are self-assured, "But I do not feel that softening of spirit which I could desire." Remember, the softening of spirit is not a condition, for there are no conditions; the covenant of grace has no conditionality whatsoever; so that we without any fitness may venture upon the promise of God which was made to us in Christ Jesus, when He said, "He that believeth on him is not condemned." It is a blessing to know that the grace of God is free to us at all times, without preparation, without fitness, without money, and without price! "I will love them freely." These words invite backsliders to return: indeed, the text was specially written for such--"I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely." Backslider! surely the generosity of the promise will at once break your heart, and you will return, and seek your Heavenly Father's favour. May God bless and protect you all. In Jesus mighty name. Amen.