Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
Hosea 11:8, “How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.”
Hosea 11:7-9 shows us God’s heart of love toward us.
Verse 7 says, “My people are bent on backsliding from Me.
Though they call to the Most High, none at all exalt Him.”
In other words, they mouth the words, but they do not mean what they say.
They do not really exalt Him.
They are bent on backsliding.
Then the Lord says in verse 8, “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you like Zeboiim?”
These two cities are associated negatively with Sodom and Gomorrah in Deuteronomy 29:23.
When God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, He included Admah and Zeboiim.
So here He is saying to Israel, “How can I do that?”
In a sense, judicially, we deserve that kind of judgment because of our rebellion.
But listen to God’s intrinsic love, the love that is part of His very being.
He is talking in a way that tells us He cannot help Himself.
He loves us.
But you ask, Why?
There is no reason.
It is electing love.
It is because God chose to love you.
God decided to make you an object of His love.
So regardless of where you are in blood, in death, in rebellion, in sin, in the world you are an object of the love of God, you are a victim of that love.
And one day you will come face to face with the fact that God loves you.
Indeed, God’s love and God’s heart churns within Him.
His sympathy is stirred over us.
This is the kind of love God has toward rebellious people.
Until Tomorrow
With A Shepherd’s Love,
Pastor Jackson
MONDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Marlon Cook – Went To Heaven Sunday
Nora Allison
Rose Fuller
Eric Magnusson’s Mother
Faith Burnette
Amy Garner
Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad
Andrew Halevi & Daughter
Ashely Burn’s Sisters
Brandon’s Dad
Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Dan Haines
Darlene Wiggins
David Burnette
David Harrison – Riverside
Deanna Fowler
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Donnie Butler’s Dad
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Easton Fielder
Ed Mays
Eric Ward
Freddie May’s Mom
George & Linda Alexander
James Burnette
James Garner’s Friend
Joanie/Jeanie Mom
Jodi Bateman
John Austin
June Cronan’s Sister
Kailey Bateman
Kim McClain’s Mother
Krista Hilscher
Larry Barker
Lee Cronan
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Lonzo Christin
Lori Blount’s Mother
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Maureen Brown
Michael Stanley
Miles Bradshaw
Pastor & Mrs. Driskell
Ricky Gipson
Roseleigh Osborn
Sandra Graham
Scott Lanier
Soso Nzolo – 17 Yr. Old South African Pastor’s Daughter
Susan & Alexis Tesone
Tom Witcher