Monthly Thought

June 2007

As I write this, it is 5 weeks until I get married. Marriage is a funny thing.  It makes you ask all sorts of things and learn lots of things about yourself. One thing I've been really challenged about recently is faithfulness.  In my bible readings, I've been looking at Hosea.

Hosea is asked by God to take a wife who is going to be unfaithful to him to show how God's people have been unfaithful to him. The people have been unfaithful to him because they've been worshipping other gods.  They don't seem to be getting what they want from God, so they are turning to other things.  Hosea's wife wasn't getting what she wanted from Hosea, and so started turning to other men.  We know that gods can take lots of different forms, and that doesn't necessarily mean following Allah or Vishnu.

Can we say that being unfaithful to God involves looking to other things for happiness, success and contentment?

How about computer/console games?  TV?  Drugs?  The pursuit of a girl/boyfriend?  Shopping?

Things that consume our time, our thinking, as we plan strategies, talk about the latest scandal, decide exactly what it is that we need to fulfill our lives. How much time do we spend thinking about these things rather than about God? I hold my hand up and say give me a choice of Scrubs or bible study, and I'm going to struggle.  It might only be for a second, but surely that is a sign of our unfaithfulness to our Lord, Creator and Friend. (The thought would be temptation, but if you act on it, it would be unfaithfulness.)

I'm not trying to guilt trip.  God has given us these things to enjoy, but surely that shouldn't be at the expense of our relationship with Him.

Bring your confessions, and return to the LORD. Say to him,  "Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises. Hosea 14.2

My point is that we should put God first.  Like in 5 weeks, my priorities are all going to be changed.  When we say yes to God in our lives, we are saying that we want to put Him first.  So what does this mean in practice?  Talk to Him. Pray to Him before you get out of bed in the morning.  Before you work, relax, go out, stay in, play, or eat.  Because, God is amazing, awesome and loving.

 The LORD says, "Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever. Hosea 14.4

Jennie Bigg