Worship - Part 2

At a National Level

God likens Jerusalem to a new born baby with it's umbilical chord still attached to it's mother, lying unclean in a pool of blood (Ezek 16:1-6).The hope God had on the baby was to 'live' and when the baby grew to an age when she could understand the love of God, God's covenant relationship was established between God and the girl (Jerusalem) (Ezek 16:8). This He did because of His great compassion on her (Jerusalem).

We too were in a helpless and hopeless situation before we become 'His own' people, we were attached to the earthly rather than the heavenly connections. But, we were washed by the Word of God, clothed in the Righteousness of Christ and sealed with the mark of the Spirit of God and await in adornment to be presented as a bride of Christ (Ezek 16:9-14).

But what a change of course in the covenant relationship (Ezek 16:15). We trusted in our own beauty and used our fame in total disregard to the love and mercy of God. We in fact became harlots to the passions of the world and sold ourselves. We even exceeded the norms of the day (Ezek 16:33). But our Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever, He keeps his words always (Ezek 16:60) and this He does by restoring our relationships.This He did by sending his only begotten Son Jesus Christ to take our place as a sin sacrifice so that we can come to Him again to worship.

Jerusalem had become a harlot to the world, so too are we who live away from His love, like a Jerusalem we have disowned our relationship and our privilege to be 'His own' people. Today God wants to call you His own if only we return to Him and seek His forgiveness. We failed at a national level to honor and give God the place he truly deserve in our lives. Worship is the place we can mend our relationship. Why not come to Him today!

Worship - part 1

Worship

Worship is the very core of our relationship with God. Through His covenant with His people, God wants to bring us once again in a worship relationship. God's passion for His people over many generations has never changed, His desire for us to come to Him in true worship continues forever.

We will look at three situations spanning over several generations to understand the length, width and the depth of God's love for His people.

Family situation:

Let's take a sneak peek at a family. There was a man who was married a prostitute and they had three children but the wife decided to continue to live a life of a prostitute even after the marriage. The children lived in unfaithfulness. They named the eldest son, 'judgment, the second daughter 'not my people' and the youngest son, 'no more mercy'. The man feared God and wanted to do everything right in the eyes of God. There were times when his wife would leave the children and sleep at her lover's home but the husband would pay out her lovers and bring the wife back to his home to be with the children.

This is the story of the Hosea family. Hosea was a man of God and God had instructed him to take a prostitute as his wife and have children who were unfaithful (Hosea 1:2).Prophet Hosea married Gomer a prostitute and she continued to live in harlotry even after marriage, they had three children. Jazreel, the name meant 'judgment', Loruhamah, which meant 'not my people' and Loammi, 'no more mercy'. What an irony to have a wife who was a full time harlot and children who were called to be unfaithful.
Imagine living a home where 'Judgment' was your brother,'not my people' your sister and 'no more mercy' your little sister. Furthermore,imagine the barrage of questions and finger pointing Prophet Hosea had to endure during and after his preaching. How many of us would have had the to pull Hosea on the side and rebuke him for not managing his family well. Who would have been his wife's clients? possibly some who have heard Hosea's messages.

God's love for His people is beyond our minds can comprehend. No matter what our situations are and how far away we have gone from his love. He is the great initiator of the love relationship once again with us. Just like Hosea who would search for his wife late in the night and pay out her lover and bring her home. Our Lord will do just the same when we only understand His unending love for us.

This how Hosea would have responded to his critics of his days:

People: How can a holy man like Hosea allow Gomer his wife in Prostitution?
Hosea: How can a Holy God love a prostitute like Gomer? Hosea 3:2


References : Hosea 1:1-9 and 3:2