SOAP 04/20/2016; Hosea 11:3-4

Today's reading: 1 Samuel 23; Psalm 31, 54; Matthew 7*

S) "³ Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk,
I took them in My arms;
But they did not know that I healed them.
⁴ I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love,
And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;
And I bent down and fed them."

Hosea 11:3-4 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Hosea 11

O) In this chapter, we see the grace and love of God at work, while His justice and righteousness are also evident. There is a common misconception that "the Old Testament God" was unmerciful and uncaring, but when Jesus came He somehow "softened" the Father. This is simply unbiblical. More accurately, people failed to recognize God's goodness then, and they continue to have misconceptions change their view of God.

 

A) Failing to recognize miracles in my life, will undoubtedly bring a discontent, ungrateful, calloused heart. I have experienced physical healing, but more importantly, I have experienced emotional and spiritual healing. It is the spiritual healing that lasts, because it is eternal healing, not temporal. God has fed me physically, providing financially for me, even in desperate times. But, it is the spiritual food that I really value. The miracle of His Word by which I live, that is a miracle I must recognize. When I am led by the Holy Spirit, when I feel the tug of the covenant bond that I have in Christ, that is a miracle. When I experience the freedom of exchanging my heavy yoke for the easy yoke of Jesus, that is a miracle. I don't need to seek the miraculous, I just need to recognize the miracles God is already doing, and has already done.

 

P) Father, thank You for taking me in Your arms. Thank You for healing me. Thank You for leading me by the Holy Spirit, with bonds of love. Thank You for lifting my heavy yoke. Thank You for feeding me. Your grace is abundant and Your miracles are frequent. Open my eyes and ears, for me to recognize Your ways, both Your miraculous moves and Your commandments. I want to recognize what You have done for me, and what You are doing for me, because I know that will only increase my affection for You, Lord. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.