"I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.
Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. Hosea 14:1, 4, 9
As I finish the last chapter of the book of Hosea my heart is burdened.. My heart is burdened because of my sins against God, sins of harlotry, and unfaithfulness. My heart so easily wanders after other things, other “lovers”. My heart can quickly get caught up in seeking worldly goals and values. My heart can even run after things that seem good, and yet anything or anyone that becomes more important to me than God is idolatry.
I heard a mother say recently that her life just wasn’t the same since her daughter went off to college. They did everything together and have a very close relationship, but now she just lives for the day the daughter calls, writes, or comes home on break. Please hear my heart, having a close relationship with a child is not sin, but when our well being, our joy, our life revolves around them – we might want to look at whether or not it has become unhealthy – an idol.
We can do the same thing with a husband, friend, career, status and so on. When we look to anything apart from God then we are playing the role of the harlot. We have become unfaithful to God. I need to search my heart, my motives and where the fulfillment of joy comes from. Anything other than God is sin even if that ‘thing’ is good. Understand I am talking about putting other things before God, of course we can find great joy in our family and friends, but if it is your source of all joy, if they are where you run to find satisfaction, then it becomes dangerously close to becoming an idol of your heart.
I’ve had to look real close at my heart over these last few weeks and ask myself some hard questions. Is there anything in my life that is more important than my relationship with God? Who do I run to first when I have problem? When I am down or feeling sad where do I go or what do I do in order to “feel” better? What is the driving passion behind all I do?
I am reminded that I need to return to the Lord on a daily basis and allow Him to purify my heart, my motives, goals, dreams and passions. If I have not surrendered daily to God, if I have not aligned myself with Gods heart, then I will never seek to walk in righteousness. I can never assume that I will just make the right choices, follow the right path, even though I love God and am in His Word. It is a daily turning over of my will, my choices and desires and asking God to help me walk with Him moment by moment.
I remember when I was young and heard the stories of Israel and how they turned to Idols, I would be frustrated with them and wonder what they were thinking. Now I realize that I so often do the same thing. My idols aren't wood or stone, and I don't pray to them, but they are still idols.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure I would be so hard on this mom. If she was so close to her daughter, it is a natural feeling to long for, not only your daughter,but your dear friend. There is a connection there that is like no other. I think it would be normal for her to feel that way, and it not necessarily be an idol. She will adjust, just like we adjust to all the huge, heart wrenching changes in our lives. I think it is hard to understand where she is coming from because not many people have that kind of relationship with their daughters. I think in time it will become more balanced. I know some moms whose daugthers are grown and married, and they still talk a couple times a day. I pray that my relationship will be that way with my daughter. What a testimony that is...what a work of God to have a mother and daughter love each other so much. It is so rare! As long as it is not controlling either one, and is healthy, I pray for that with my daughter! I think that sometimes we, as Christians, try to deny we have natural human feelings...as if we aren't able to FEEL and be godly and trust at the same time. I believe we can do both...just some thoughts.
ReplyDeleteHow true that our turning to God to meet our every need, desire, and dream, and to be our source of satisfaction must be a daily thing.
ReplyDeleteSo many think it is a one time thing, but it must be a daily thing, sometimes an hourly thing, because things, stuff, and even people and relationships can creep in and we can so easily put them in the place where God should be...
Great thoughts, thanks for sharing.
Have you read Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers? It is a modern day story on the book of Hosea and is wonderful... it is my favorite every Christian fiction book.
Blessings!
OUCH! Much of what you said goes along with the study I am doing in James. I can empathize with the woman who misses her daughter. I was very close to my son, especially since we homeschooled. When he got engaged, it was really hard. I felt like I had lost a friend. He was turning to his wife-to-be, as he should. God had to teach me to trust Him and look to Him during this time of changes.
ReplyDelete