212 Friday, July 31, 2009

212 Hosea 5 - 9; Acts 21.40 - 22.29

I believe it was C.S. Lewis who said, “There are only two kinds of people in the world, those who say, Thy will be done, and those to whom God says, Thy will be done.” As you read Hosea you will find more of the second group—not the group of choice. It is really hard to admit how we have this fickleness in us as well. We believe in God with all of heart and yet we run from Him. We say yes to God, but with reservations. We want God, but at arms length. Israel had really slid down a slippery slope. Listen to these words,
Hosea 5:4 (MSG)
4 They couldn't turn to God if they wanted to. Their evil life is a bad habit. Every breath they take is a whore's breath. They wouldn't recognize God if they saw me.
What we have to wrestle with is to make sure that our doubts which are normal part of the faith walk does not turn into cynicism. We do not want the unbelief that accompanies the cynic’s life. God’s chosen people, Israel, had become so addicted to sin that they would not even recognize God if He showed up in 3D. Pray that your heart and those around you stay soft toward the Lord.

In the book of Acts we pick up on Paul’s story. He is not defending himself. Paul is telling of the grace of our Lord Jesus in his life. He tells first of what he was in these words,
Acts 22:2-5 (MSG)
2 When they heard him speaking Hebrew, they grew even quieter. No one wanted to miss a word of this. He continued,
3 "I am a good Jew, born in Tarsus in the province of Cilicia, but educated here in Jerusalem under the exacting eye of Rabbi Gamaliel, thoroughly instructed in our religious traditions. And I've always been passionately on God's side, just as you are right now.
4 "I went after anyone connected with this 'Way,' went at them hammer and tongs, ready to kill for God. I rounded up men and women right and left and had them thrown in prison.

Paul was all out to kill the people of the “Way” and now he is all out for this Jesus—he is one of them now. It is amazing what God can do in a person’s life. What has he done in you?