God wants “to heal
Israel” (Hosea 7:1). Sadly, there is so much “sin” in the hearts of
Israel - “I trained them and made them strong. Yet, they plan evil
against Me” (Hosea 7:15). God wants to send His blessing. Sadly, “they
don’t return to the Most High” (Hosea 7:16). This is Israel’s story.
It’s also our story. God is calling us to return to Him, to be trained
by Him, to live in His presence, to enjoy His blessing, to give praise
and glory to Him.
"The Son of Man came to save the lost" (Matthew 18:11). In Matthew 18:12-13, Jesus speaks about sheep. He's really speaking about us. He is the Shepherd. We are His sheep. Sheep wander away from the shepherd. We wander away from the Lord. The shepherd looks for the lost sheep. Jesus has come to seek for us and find us. He brings us home to God, our Father. Through His saving grace, we receive new life - a life in which we rejoice in our great Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He delivers us from the condemnation, which our sin has brought upon us. He brings us into the knowledge of His forgiveness. This Gospel of salvation changes us. It teaches us to live in the power of God's love. Jesus speaks about "the Kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:12,23), "the Kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:14,24) and "eternal life" (Matthew 19:29). Jesus' way of thinking and living is so very different from the world's way of thinking and living. He chall...
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