PART IV: MY VOW TO GOD 

Love That Lasts 

We assume that God is interested in our church attendance and good deeds. We think He wants us to appear to be good little church girls. But if there is anything we can learn from Gomer’s story, it’s that God isn’t interested in labels or appearances. He’s after love that lasts. He’s interested in our hearts. He doesn’t pursue us so that we can sit in prayer meetings or bible studies with our bodies in His presence but our hearts distant. Our God is a God of relationship. 

He’s in this for life, and He’s hoping you are too. Developing a relationship with God is not an event, it’s a process. Just as two people in love continue to grow together, get to know one another, and learn more about each other as time passes, God wants to develop a relationship with you where you grow to know Him. The more you know Him, the more you will grow to understand His love for you; and the more you will learn how to live in peace, joy, and love. There is no one bible study that could change your life. There is no one group of words that can heal your heart. The goal of any bible study, conference, or service, is to bring you one step closer to knowing God. But the rest is up to you. 

Personal Reflection: 

Am I comfortable letting this journey end here or am I looking for love that lasts? Am I looking for religion and outward change or am I ready to start knowing God on a personal level? 

Remain in Me 

John 15:5-8 (MSG) 

God compares His relationship with us to that of a vine and its branches. When they are together they produce fruit. This fruit represents good things, blessings that your life produces when you have an intimate and organic relationship with Him. It’s about more than pretenses or church services- it’s about connection. When we are connected with the vine, all good things in our life are abundant. But, when we separate and try to do things on our own, we begin to wither. We do not wither because we are being punished or because God is angry but simply because we are cut off from our life-source. 

The verse above shows us that if we abide (or exist) in relationship with Him we can be sure that all of our needs will be provided for. You see, we often complain that we don’t have this or that, that we are lonely, or that we are afraid. If we only understood that the solution for all of it is found in a lasting relationship with God. That’s where the story of Gomer ends, and finally gets to “happily ever after.” Gomer chose to abide with Hosea and remain in her relationship. She chose to leave behind her promiscuous heart, and vow not only return God’s love, but to remain there, where she had always belonged. 

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for your unfailing, and everlasting love. Thank you because I know you will never leave or forsake me. From this day forward, I make a covenant to love you, and be faithful to you as well. Although I know I am not perfect, and I may make mistakes, I promise to keep returning to you whenever my heart gets far away. I want more than just a religious relationship or titles, I want to know you, and I want to abide in you, so that my life can be blessed, and so that I can accomplish your purpose for me.