Thoughts for Personal/Family Worship: Chapter 1

From the “Reformation Heritage King James Study Bible” sampler.

“The whole message of Hosea ought to generate thoughts of the wonder of God’s gracious love for His people.  The apostle John declared that ‘God is love’ (1 John 4:16).  There is more talk and less understanding about God’s love than almost any other divine attribute.  Most people define God’s love based on their own experience of love as an emotional attachment to something attractive.  Even the Christian’s love for God is generated by attraction to Him.  John says that ‘we love him, because he first loved us’ (1 John 4:19).  On this reasoning, people feel that God will love them because they are attractive to God.  God, however, does not love because something in the object is worthy or attractive.  God loves because He is love.  His love springs from His character rather than the character of those He loves.  He loves us not because we are what we are, but in spite of what we are.  Every Christian must realize that he does not deserve God’s favor.  It is only possible because God in love sent His Son, the only One worthy of the Father’s love, to be the Redeemer of an unlovely people.  This realization should arouse humility and gratitude in all who have experienced God’s free love revealed and given in Jesus Christ.  The prophecy of Hosea is a vivid illustration of the nature of God’s free love to an undeserving people.”