JULY82016

Sometimes the prophets warn the people to change their ways with threats of fire and brimstone. At other times the prophets urge the people to change by holding out a vision of the “new heaven and the new earth” that God has in store for those who are filled with love. Hosea, while certainly using the stick and the carrot in his own prophetic ministry, has a slightly different approach. He challenges the people: you are better than this. You are fearfully, wonderfully made, you are a child of God, you are made in God’s image and likeness. You are better than the way you are acting. Shape up and become who God made you to be. Let us in our own lives heed Hosea’s message.