Focal Passage: Hosea 6:1-7:2
“I know I shouldn’t, but I’m going to. I’ll ask forgiveness
later.” Have you ever heard someone say that?
When you really think about it, that statement contains the
utmost in arrogant treachery toward God.
Please don’t think that is an overstatement. It’s not.
Such an attitude communicates a woefully deficient
understanding of the heinous nature of sin.
It fails to calculate the treasonous depths to which we sink
when we handle our professed devotion to Christ so frivolously.
Supposedly we have given our lives to His control.
Yet, sin is treason against the King we claim to serve.
Furthermore, with such an idea we assert that God is
duty-bound to forgive us, in spite of the obvious insincerity of our
confession.
When this attitude pervades our thinking, our professed
worship and daily walk is nothing more than lip service and empty religious
busyness.
But the outrageous beauty in it all is that He truly longs
to forgive us in spite of ourselves.
No matter how badly or how often we have failed.
If our hearts are sincerely repentant, then He will always
receive us back to Himself.
Such loyalty, such goodness and mercy is too amazing to
comprehend. Human experience has taught us that every one of us has our
breaking point — the offense that finally burns the bridge of reconciliation;
and we cut our losses in the relationship and vow to never be so duped again.
But Christ is not duped. He knows all. His steadfast love
for us has nothing to do with duty or naivety; it is all a matter of Him being
loyal to Himself — to His own character.
He stands ready to forgive because that’s just who He is.
“Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but
He will heal us. He has stricken, but He will bind us up” (Hosea 6:1, NKJV).
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