Unfailing Love

We've seen how our thoughts are important to our joy. We've seen how without joy God can allow us to wander until we choose to change. And yesterday, like Israel, wandering can last until we acknowledge our need for God. We experience struggles but we are called to rejoice in the midst of them.  In each case, God is the One who is there for us if we seek His guidance.  He is our ultimate joy.

Hosea 2:19 - I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the LORD. 

Hosea's story is beautiful, although sad.  It's about a man God called to marry Gomer, who would become an adulterous wife.  God told Hosea that she would continue leave him, but he was to faithfully take her back and never stop loving her.  This marriage was to help Hosea understand God's heart for His unfaithful people, Israel.  When this tender hearted prophet was called to give a word to Israel to plead for their repentance for idolatry and wickedness, it would be poured out from the broken heart of God.

Of course this story shows another perspective as well, this being our relationship to God and how we sometimes fall away to our worldly desires just as Israel ran to their gods and pleasures and Gomer to her own lusts.  However, like Hosea for Gomer, His love never fails.  He never changes.  We went into covenant with Him at our conversion and though we might break that covenant, He never will.  

God chose Israel to be His people.  He chose Gomer to be Hosea's wife.  God chooses us to be His children.  He is to be our first love and our Father.  It's all about His love that is so great for us that He desires a relationship with us, that we might walk with Him, that He might show His love toward us and guide us in His perfect will for our lives.  

Like Hosea's heart broke over Gomer's indiscretions, God's heart breaks when we wander from Him.  He desires our love, obedience and relationship with only Him.  He is jealous over us.  He will never fall out of love with us, no matter what we've done and He calls us back time and time again.  He takes us into deserts and through valleys, out of love, to work righteousness in us.  He will never leave us nor forsake us.

I think about yesterday's struggle and although it was a minor one, I wandered a bit.  But being Who He is, I see now He used the struggle to draw me back into His presence, and into His will.  It's all about Him and His love for His children.

Psalm 90:14 - Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, 

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Heavenly Father, words can't describe your unconditional love for us even in our rebellion.  No matter how far we might have wandered, Your love goes farther and Your arms are opened as wide as they need to be for us to return to You.  I picture You on the cross, Lord. That's how much love You have for us. Forgive us when we have turned to our own desires, even for a moment.  Show us, O God, in a way that we can understand, how great Your love truly is for us.  I thank You, Father, that You called me, You chose me, You continue  to nurture, grow and teach me.   Thank you for drawing me back. Thank You for never letting go.  I pray that You would open the hearts and minds of those who don't understand this kind of love, that they would welcome You into their lives.  In Jesus' name, Amen.