Saturday, March 12, 2011
END TIMES READING PLAN: Isaiah 34-35, 40
SCRIPTURE READING
Hosea 2:16 “And it shall be, in that day,” Says the LORD, “That you will call Me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer call Me ‘My Master,’ (NKJV)
Central to the book of Hosea is the unique story of God commanding him to marry a prostitute. At first, we may question why God would ask this of one of His prophets, but God wanted Hosea’s marriage to be a prophetic picture of how God’s people were living in spiritual adultery. Hosea’s pain filled marriage was a picture. God wanted Hosea to experience the disappointment, pain and joy of the recovery of a broken marriage relationship. This equipped Hosea to be the first prophet to make the Bridegroom God known to Israel. Hosea was the first one to declare that Israel would receive their Messiah as a Husband. God’s people will call Jesus “my Husband”, not just my Savior, my Healer, my King. They no longer will call Him “my Master”. This is extremely significant because it depicts a change in view as they no longer see themselves as slaves but in a love relationship with Him. Too many believers are stuck in a servant or slave relationship with Jesus when He is calling us to be in a love relationship with Him. We don’t need to work endlessly for a taskmaster who beats us into submission. Instead we get to partner with a Bridegroom, our love is to be the motivator behind our work, our sacrifices and our submission to Him.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Jesus is a Saviour, a Healer, a King…a Husband. Ask God which role(s) you readily accept and which one(s) you struggle with. Ask Him to show you why you struggle with some of His roles and how you can grow to embrace all that Scripture reveals of Him.
2. Ask God to show you if you are relating to Him more like a slave/servant or like a bride. Ask Him to show you practical steps you can take in order to grow in embracing Him as Husband.
3. Pray that love would be your motivator to work, sacrifice and submit to Him.
