Hosea Review Continued

Today, I am going to continue to review some of the things the Bible has taught us, not only in Hosea but in all the books.  It may seem that I am always putting Christians in a negative light, but nothing could be farther from the truth.  Today we as Christians need to be stronger than ever in our faith if we are going to be effective in reaching the world for Christ.  Just as God's people did throughout history, we cannot afford to look to the world for security.  This was something that Israel, God's chosen people, forgot over and over.  When they found themselves successful in the eyes of the world they tended to forget God and look to the world for security.  We today can be just as guilty.  Our success or failure does not rest in riches and the power of any government, but in our relationship with God.  From the nation of Israel's first desire for an earthly king, they began to continually fall out of their covenant relationship with God.  When we look to earthly rulers for security, and feel that God and His standards are unimportant, we begin to fall out of God's will for us.  Whether at any time in the history of Israel or in the world today, we must put God first in all things.  We also see that sacrifices made outside the will of God are more than useless, even if they are supposedly made to God.  They are an insult to God instead.  Again, we cannot just add God's name to what we are doing and expect Him to accept it if we haven't asked for His guidance to start with.  We need to remember that anything we give to God is His to start with.  Finally, we must acknowledge that God wants restoration with His people, and not punishment of them.  God stands ready to forgive everyone, but He leaves it up to each individual to accept that forgiveness.  God is not vindictive but merciful, and He awaits to forgive those who call on Him for forgiveness.