What would you say now? if a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone wandering away, will he not let the ninety-nine be, and go to the mountains in search of the wandering one. And if he comes across it, truly I say to you, he has more joy over it than over the ninety-nine which have not gone out of the way.               Matthew 18:12-13

Dear Shepherd, let me be Your found sheep. Your guide, protection, sacrifice ... every attributes touch my heart deeply and they are what I am longing for.

*****

If we say openly that we have done wrong, he is upright and true to his word, giving us forgiveness of sins and making us clean from all evil.              1 John 1:9

What a valuable promise!!! Every time I get lost, You find me, teach me and bring me to Your sheepfold. Thank you, Shepherd.

In Chapter 4 of the Hosea, God condemned priests in religious leaders and priests of keeping the people from knowing Him. They were supposed to be spiritual leaders, but they had become leaders in wrongdoing and bad examples for believers. The sins they committed were ... "every time a person brought a sin offering, the priest received a portion of it. And because they couldn't eat all of the offerings themselves, they sold some and gave some to their relatives. The priests profited from the continuation of sin. So instead of trying to lead the people out of sin, they encouraged sin to increade their profits." (quoated in NLT)

At the beginning, my feeling instantly tells me that it's so ridiculous for a priest to lead people away from God. However, then I ask why priests or religious leaders turned to commit sins in front of their Gods. Did they know that it's absolute wrong to do these? Did they know that they would receive the punishments from God if they keep doing so?    YES.   I recall my past experiences and they tell me that christians commits sins are usually blindfolded by the demon and themselves, i.e. tries to cover the followed consequences from God and inner divine voices from Holy Spirit. At that time, we naturally do something very stupid and unwise ... If we continue to addict to 'these', turn away from God very often and 'enjoy' the satisfaction of getting more and more interests and excitements. I think this is why priests did those shameful things in front of God without considering His righteousness.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.                Psalm 139:23-24

At the times I think 'I CAN' is the time 'I AM WEAK'. Lord, please keep my hearts towards You. If I rely solely myself to combat the temptations, I foresee I'll fall in front of You. Please give me strength, Lord. 

 In Hosea 2:23, "I (God) will show love to those I called ' Not loved.' And to those I called ' Not my people,' I will say,'Now you are my people.' And they will reply,'You are our God!' "

'No matter how we sink, God is willing to buy us back - to redeem us - and to lift us up again.' quoated in NLT.

Dear Lord, I can't fully describe Your love in words, pictures or any means. In the past few years, I clearly experienced your redemption and unceased love during my several rebellions and hardships. I am so sorry to do so many shameful things and for my ignorance ...  even I thought that You never forgive me any more ... BUT ... Your love brought me back from the hook of death in time ... Thank you Lord. What should I do to show my gratitude? Please tell me Lord ...

What Gomer (in Hosea 1 and 2) did and made Him so angry ...

1. Adultery: She did shameful things behind her husband. What is yours? How's your allowance to sin?

2. Ingratitude: She treated all her blessings, jewels, crops (her possessions) as something that she deserved to have. She had no concept to the Giver. Do we have the same thought as hers? What if God take all away?

3. Idolatry: She worshipped the idol, Baal, and offered sacrifice. What is the hidden idol that allures you most in your heart? Have you underestimate your Almighty God?

4. Filling her emptiness with vain stuffs: What's your goal? Where is the origin of your emptiness? Did 'they' satisfy your need?

I am not pretending to be one who conquers all of the above. I did and sometimes I'm STILL in the struggles.

But the Bible does not just disclose and analyze one's faults and this is not the main purpose of the Bible. This is not the end of the story about Hosea and Gomer. God's love, richness, mercy, forgiveness, righteousness and salvation were then followed in later chapters. What exciting news this is! For me, the HOPE He gives is the spring in a desert.  

Dear Lord, please let me lean on you and have a breath of FRESH air near Your chest. Amen.

Hosea 2:6, "For this reason (rebellion against Jesus) I will fence her in with thornbushes. I will block her path with a wall to make her lose her way."

2:14 "But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there."

All blessings and the things I see very important or meaningful may disappear at once when I turn my face away and do what I desire without considering His feeling. His punishments shows His dual paradoxical natures: Righteouness and Love (only those He loves receive His penalty). Moreover, the punishments are always followed by His unconditional forgiveness and tender loving care.

Dear Lord, I would not behave myself mainly due to horror towards You, rather, due to caring how You feel since ...

You have regarded me as your intimate friend.

Thank you Lord.