Hosea 6-7

  Oh the wonderful grace and love of God!  We make it so hard.. we ignore, forget, and deny the truth of His Word.. bringing destruction upon ourselves, when all the while He stands before us with arms open wide.

He desires for us to come to Him.
He desires to heal us.
He desires to revive us.
He desires to raise us to life!

"So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord."
The truth is that God is not looking for sacrifices and burnt offerings.. but He is looking for what delights His heart - mercy/ loyalty;  knowledge of Him.

He wants us to acknowledge Him and to realize the truth about ourselves.
We are sinners.
We have "dealt treacherously" against Him.
We have committed crimes.
We have not considered our sins.
We have not remembered that HE SEES US!

He wants us to call on Him.
He wants us to return to Him.
He wants us to seek Him.
He wants to redeem us.
He wants us to cry out to Him from our hearts.
He wants us to turn to Him and not to any one or anything else.

God is not far, He is not uncaring,  and He is not vindictive...
He will punish sin.  He will chastise the wicked.
He will uncover evil.
But, His purposes in all this is that we might come to Him and find health and life.

Father, blessed is Your name in all the earth.  Theses truths help us to know You.. who You really are and not our false ideas about You.  Thank You for loving us and desiring us.. wanting us to know You and be with You forever.  Thank You for speaking through Your Word and touching my heart. Amen.