6 Words That Will Change Your LifeSample

My mom was married and divorced four times (at least that’s how many I know about). As a kid, I had a front row seat to the hurt and anger that erupt from the downward spiral of love-turned-to-rejection. 

The story of the Old Testament prophet, Hosea, and his steadfast, loyal love for his adulteress, prostitute wife, Gomer, amazes me—and all the more because, once again, we see God weaving beautiful symbolism and foreshadowing into this story. The story of Hosea’s enduring love for his unfaithful wife symbolizes God’s unwavering love for His sinful, rebellious people. 

In Hosea’s day, the penalty for a woman caught in adultery was death by stoning. And Gomer had gone far beyond the sin of one adulterous affair; she was considered a prostitute.  It’s while Gomer is still in full out rebellion that God tells Hosea to go search for his wayward wife and bring her home. He finds her in the slave market, where he buys her back, redeeming her from the life of a prostitute slave.   

What a striking, symbolic picture this provides of God and humanity! Like Gomer, we have committed spiritual adultery and turned away from the God who created us to be with Him. We’ve lusted after poor substitutes for the real, unfailing, eternal love of God—things like self, power, appearance and money.  

Yet, out of love for us, God willingly sent His Son, Jesus, into the “slave market” of the world, to buy us back and redeem us out of our bondage to sin and our penalty of death. We deserve judgment, but God is extending His love to us instead, through the atoning work Jesus did on the cross on our behalf. The salvation Jesus offers comes as a free gift from God. We can’t earn it, all we can do is receive it, walk in the power of the cross and extended it to others in desperate need of it, too. 

Hosea is a Christ type. In fact, Hosea’s very name means “salvation.”  

Love isn’t always easy. In fact, sometimes it’s painfully hard to love those who push you away. Yet God calls us to love even our enemies—which is impossible in our own strength. That’s why we must plug into the power of the Holy Spirit. Only He can work in us to produce the kind of love that “never fails” and “keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13). 

Hosea demonstrated a depth of love for the “unlovable” that only comes from God. Who are the “unlovables” in your community that God wants you to love with the love of Christ? 

Spend some time praying for them. Then look for ways in the coming days to consciously demonstrate the love of Christ to them—with no expectation that they will appreciate your sacrificial efforts or love you in return.