SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:30
WORSHIP 10:30
Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart:
Hosea 11:4, “I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.”
This love is “handling love.”
It is the way God handles us in our rebellion.
In Hosea 11:2 there is rebellion.
God sent His servants to His people, and the people turned away from them.
They went back to their Baals and they sacrificed.
Do you know what God’s unconditional love does in that state?
He says, Hosea 11:3, “I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.”
This describes the tenderness with which the Lord handled His people.
Then He amplifies on how He handled them: “I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love.”
Gentle cords and bands of love are in apposition to one another.
The gentle cords are the bands of love.
In these verses Ephraim is pictured as a stubborn, rebellious heifer.
Usually, stubborn heifers would be handled with thick ropes to control their rebellion.
But God does not do that with us.
He does not throw those heavy ropes over our rebellion and try, so to speak, to force us to the ground, and then draw us like a beast.
He does not handle us in that way.
Even when we are rebellious, He is so delicate and so gentle.
He draws us with gentle cords – cords of a man, not cords of a beast.
Using thin, gentle cords, He tugs slightly and draws until our rebellion begins to be subdued.
Until Tomorrow
With a Shepherd’s Love
Pastor
TODAY’S PRAYER LIST
Amy Garner’s Dad
Brandon’s Dad
Charlene Palmer
Dr. Don Davis
Freddie May’s Mom
John McClain
Kathi Mabe
Rose Fuller
Terrell Loyd
Tom Witcher
Wes Knight
Ann Sullivan – Paula’s Friend
Bentley Smith
James Garner’s Friend
Kim McClain’s Mother
Lonzo Christian
Ashley Burn’s Sisters
Bill Moody
Charlie Sessom – Waiting
Colby/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Greg Payne – Lisa’s Brother
Hanna Hall – Pray for Grace
Kenny & Nora Allison
Kimberly – Dustin’s Sister
Larry Barker
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Pastor & Mrs. Driskell
Paula Ferus’ Missionary Friend
Ricky Stubbs
Rod Gustafson – Cancer
Roseleigh Osborn
Scott Lanier – Linda’s Son
Shaelyn – Jill’s Friend
Sheila Simmon’s Cousin
Tammy Shellnut’s Mother/Dad