Pursued: Hosea
Hosea
Pursued to Become
February 23, 2014 • Chris Edmondson • Colossians 1:27, Hosea 11:1–6, Philippians 1:6
The world has a way of making us feel insignificant. Sometimes it seems like no one is listening and no one cares. We are endlessly busy, but nobody seems to notice or appreciate the difference we make. The only people who seem to matter are rich, famous or lucky. The story of Hosea reminds us, that even though there are billions of people in the world, God is personally obsessed with you. He not only wants to forgive your past, He wants to give you a brilliant future. God has a specific purpose for your specific life, and the more you lean into him, the more you become the unique, irreplaceable person you were meant to be.
Pursued in Love
February 16, 2014 • Chris Edmondson • Hosea 1:2, Exodus 20:3–5, Hosea 2, Hosea 3, Hosea 6:1–2
A lot of us expect our problems to disappear once we reach out to God. When trials continue or escalate, we get confused and frustrated. Sometimes we pray for things to happen or not happen, but God doesn't seem to answer. It leaves us wondering, does He really care about me? The story of Hosea reminds us that despite how we feel, God relentlessly pursues us with love. Even when it seems like our world is falling apart, God holds all the pieces in His hands, and in time, will put us back together stronger than when we started. All we need to do is trust Him and move forward knowing nothing can ever separate us from His love.
Pursued by Grace
February 9, 2014 • Chris Edmondson • Hosea 1:2, Hosea 3:1–2, Romans 4:25, Matthew 26:15
It's human nature to run from God. People see Him as police officer chasing them down or a judge waiting to convict them of all their crimes. But God doesn't pursue us with judgment, He pursues us with grace. God offers a beautiful picture of grace in the story of Hosea and Gomer. His wife is lost in a life of prostitution, owing more debts than she can ever hope to pay. God tells Hosea to not only pay the price for his lost wife, but to "go and love her," despite her failures. This is the nature of God's extravagant grace. He loves us when we are least lovable. He pays a high price for us when we are least valuable. It's time to stop running and be caught by grace.
Pursued For Relationship
February 2, 2014 • Chris Edmondson • Hosea 1, Romans 8:35–39
A lot of us get worn out trying to stay on God's good side. We know we should go to church more, pray more and read more of the bible, but when we try to live a 'better life,' we fail. The more we fail, the guiltier we feel and the harder we try next time. Most people give up on faith or trudge on through life not ever feeling good enough for God. There's a word for this: it's called religion. But just like the shocking story of Hosea, where a prophet marries a prostitute, God doesn't pursue us for religion; He pursues us for relationship. God wants to know you and be known by you despite your failings. Time to stop running for His approval and rest in His perfect love.