READ/HEAR: Hos. 11-14

What decent father doesn’t want his wayward children to straighten out and  return to what’s right, return to the family values, return to a place of fellowship and acceptance with the family? How much more does our Heavenly Father desire to see His rebels return to their faith and place in His Kingdom.

Hosea’s message in chapter 14 was for Ephraim’s misfits to return to the Lord and receive His forgiveness and healing. He promised to receive and restore them when they found out that all other sources of security were ineffective.

We find God’s acceptance in Christ Jesus. His arms are always open, beckoning the lost to come to Him for everything they need.

For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:  [Is. 30:15]

READ/HEAR: Hosea 5-10

Hosea’s message was to the northern tribes of Israel. He dealt with them while Isaiah was pleading with Judah to the south. His writing describes the many sins and the rebellious nature of this people who were like an unfaithful wife.

Consistent with the nature of God, he issues a plea for revival so this people group can get back on track with God. It forcefully comes in chapter ten where he pleads, “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap faithful love; break up your unplanted ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you.”

Little did he know we would read these words in 2020. Can they be applied? Most assuredly!

It’s TIME.

READ/HEAR: Hosea 1-4

God told Hosea to marry the harlot Gomer, an unfaithful woman. God loves us and will marry us (the marriage supper of the Lamb [Rev. 19:9]). We, like Gomer, are unfaithful. None of us deserves the goodness and love of the Lord, but He does it anyway.

We learn from God’s example to love the unfaithful and unlovely. The same love He shows us, we are to show to our world. They don’t deserve it and neither do we. Yet, while we were still in our sin, God so loved us that He sent Christ to die for us and take away our sin. [Rom. 5:8]

READ/HEAR: Dan. 10-12

To Daniel was shown the events of the end times. At the conclusion of his visitation his instructions were, “Go about your business without fretting or worrying. Relax. When it’s all over, you will be on your feet to receive your reward.”

He had just been shown great battles, indescribable horrors, and cataclysmic events. Yet, the angel’s instructions were “Be faithful to the end. Then you will die, but you will rise to receive your reward at the end of time.”

READ/HEAR: Dan. 9

Daniel concluded that God’s compassion was Israel’s only hope for the future. After God had revealed to him events to come, he was greatly distressed by the continual sin and rebellion of God’s people and how it had caused them (70 years prior) to be taken away captive to Babylon.

Isn’t this the continual cycle of life? We find ourselves in a pickle because of the way we always resort to our own solutions for life’s problems.  We call upon God as a last resort when we’ve made a complete mess of things.

God’s Spirit comes to us and reveals Christ’s compassion and forgiveness. We confess our sins and find His comfort. He adjusts our vision and we finally take some solid steps to healing and victory.

“Come unto Me, you who need to recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  Matt. 11:28-30

REMEMBER! This daily blog that I publish is intended to stimulate YOU to put God’s Word and presence FIRST every day of your life. It’s not designed to cause you to depend upon me for anything. My desire is to see you seek God for yourself. Jesus will NOT disappoint you!

READ/HEAR: Dan. 7,8

Daniel had dreams and looks into the end times that troubled him. When we read chapter 7 and 8, we know why. His writings constitute a major portion of scripture essential to eschatology (theology concerning the final events of history).

The key for the contemporary Christian is to rest in the Lord’s peace and comfort. We have so many promises from the Word that God will protect and preserve His saints from all danger, regardless of what happens around us.

READ/HEAR: Dan. 6

My dad used to tell me Bible stories before tucking me into bed. The story of “Daniel in the Lion’s Den” was a great one that I will never forget. It combines the interest of ferocious animals, an exemplary Bible character, and a lesson in trust that children need to hear.

Daniel was quite a person. He outshone all the other ministers and rulers because an extraordinary spirit was in him. They tried to find fault with him, but couldn’t. He did everything with such a standard of excellence. It drove them to devise a plan for his downfall. It failed. God was praised and Daniel was promoted.

Be sure that your children know this story and its message.

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.  [Isaiah 54:17]

READ/HEAR: Dan. 5

Belshazzar, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, was the king of Babylon. On a festive occasion, he was holding a feast for all his dignitaries. While intoxicated, he presumptuously called for the stolen Hebrew golden goblets to be brought out to drink wine in. As he did, the hand of God mysteriously appeared to all. It began writing, “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PHARSIN.” The king was so frightened that he turned pale and his knees buckled.

The queen informed him of Daniel’s distinctive gift of being able to interpret such extraordinary messages from God. He was called upon and immediately gave God’s message to the king.

His God-given gift brought him to the highest place of recognition and honor available.

Don’t be misled by trusting anything over your God-given gifts to give you a fulfilling life and ministry.

“Apart from Me (Jesus), you can do nothing.” Jn. 15:5b

READ/HEAR: Dan. 4

Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, was indeed the most powerful man upon earth. One day while strolling in his palace, admiring all the success and accomplishments he attributed to himself, God reduced him instantly and caused him to graze the grass like an animal. This was to show him how insignificant he truly was without God’s sanction and favor upon his life.

The healthy attitude we should all have is what was uttered by Micah … “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  [ch. 6, v. 8]

We do this by giving our heart and life to Christ to live out through us.

READ/HEAR: Dan. 3

Jesus was in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego ater they were thrown in because they didn’t worship the golden image idol. He preserved them so that there wasn’t even the smell of smoke upon their garments. That’s miraculous, complete protection.

We go through things. We get thrown into the fire, we get a disease, we have losses, we have an accident … if you’re a Christian, Jesus goes through it with you.

The key for us is: Don’t give in to the enemy, don’t bow down to him or anything that exalts itself over God. Trust the Lord and He will be with you.