MERCY ME!
Hosea 1:6-7
"And [Gomer] conceived again and bore a daughter. Then God said to him, 'Call her name Lo-Ruhamah, for I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel, but I will utterly take them away. Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah, will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword or battle, by horses or horsemen.' "
This is a difficult teaching: Even though God is gracious and full of compassion, there is a limit to God's mercy. The name Lo-Ruhamah means "not to be pitied." The northern kingdom, Israel, had so departed from the Lord that God removed His hand of mercy from them. It is possible to become so degenerate that God withdraws His mercy, as with Sodom and Gomorrah or the people of Noah's day who became so wicked that God sent judgment. In the words of Paul, "God gave them over" to their uncleanness, vile passions, and debased minds (Romans 1:24-28). Even though the southern kingdom of Judah was not guiltless, they had not yet crossed that line, and were still under God's grace. God had mercy on Lot and Noah and Judah, even though they were not perfect people. And God has mercy on me even though I am not sinless. It is a sobering thought that "God's Spirit will not always strive with men" (Genesis 6:3). It is only because of God's mercy that we are not all consumed (Lamentations 3:22). I am so thankful for God's mercy through the Lord Jesus. But this is why it is so important to guard against harboring sin in my life.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: There is a line that can be crossed where God no longer extends His mercy.
[end]
Have a merciful day. Love you.
Hosea 1:6-7
"And [Gomer] conceived again and bore a daughter. Then God said to him, 'Call her name Lo-Ruhamah, for I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel, but I will utterly take them away. Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah, will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword or battle, by horses or horsemen.' "
This is a difficult teaching: Even though God is gracious and full of compassion, there is a limit to God's mercy. The name Lo-Ruhamah means "not to be pitied." The northern kingdom, Israel, had so departed from the Lord that God removed His hand of mercy from them. It is possible to become so degenerate that God withdraws His mercy, as with Sodom and Gomorrah or the people of Noah's day who became so wicked that God sent judgment. In the words of Paul, "God gave them over" to their uncleanness, vile passions, and debased minds (Romans 1:24-28). Even though the southern kingdom of Judah was not guiltless, they had not yet crossed that line, and were still under God's grace. God had mercy on Lot and Noah and Judah, even though they were not perfect people. And God has mercy on me even though I am not sinless. It is a sobering thought that "God's Spirit will not always strive with men" (Genesis 6:3). It is only because of God's mercy that we are not all consumed (Lamentations 3:22). I am so thankful for God's mercy through the Lord Jesus. But this is why it is so important to guard against harboring sin in my life.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: There is a line that can be crossed where God no longer extends His mercy.
[end]
Have a merciful day. Love you.
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