Basking in His Tenderness: Hosea
God loves you tenderly and wants to restore you. Fill up both your heart and your coffee cup with us this morning.
Welcome to the Daily Bible Podcast Coffee Club!
We’re Tricia and Michelle, two friends inviting you to join us in reading through the Bible chronologically this year, using the NLT One Year Bible. These daily emails are meant to be a cozy companion to your morning coffee and the Daily Bible Podcast.
Scroll down for a link to today’s Scripture reading and podcast, a Word of the Day Espresso Shot, a chance to comment and meet other podcast listeners, and more!
Word of the Day Espresso Shot
Ashlyn put her head in her hand and groaned. She knew she had messed up.
She was running up against work deadlines, the house was an absolute disaster, and she had yelled at her three-year-old son when he didn’t listen at the playground. And because she felt so tired and defeated, Ashlyn had then spent a full 45 minutes scrolling on her phone while her son watched a TV show.
Now, it was almost bedtime. Ashlyn was sitting at the table, wallowing in her shame and guilt.
Ashlyn called to her son, who was pushing a toy bulldozer across the rug.
“Hey buddy, I’m so sorry. I know I wasn’t patient with you today. I’m stressed and frustrated, but not at you— at lots of other things. You are a good boy. I’m so sorry.” A tear rolled down Ashlyn’s cheek. Her son walked over from the rug.
“Mama, it’s ok,” he said, patting her on the arm. “Want to come play trucks with me?”
Ashlyn smiled and wiped off her tear. Her son smiled back. And as she sat on the rug with her son, making construction truck noises with him, she felt a soothing impression on her soul. See how quickly and tenderly your son forgives you? That’s how I forgive, too. Ashlyn took a breath and said a silent prayer. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for your tender love.
Today’s Challenge
You just read about God’s tender love and forgiveness as we concluded Hosea. Now your challenge is to accept it. Yep, that’s it. Accept it. Bask in it. He loves you. He is not mad at you.
Memory Verse
I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ Hosea 10:12
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Today’s Coffee Chat
How do you feel when you read about God’s tender love for you?
Going Deeper than a Venti: Reflection and Journal Prompt
As we’ve studied the last few days, Hosea draws a parallel between a marriage and Israel’s relationship with God. A wife who commits adultery is just like a nation who strays from God— and when we, as followers of Jesus, disobey or disengage with God, we are the same.
As we conclude our study of Hosea, it’s important to ask— are we like the unfaithful Gomer, running away from God and turning to other things?
Of course, all of us are at some point. If you haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you are still running from Him. (To learn more about making a decision to follow Christ, send us a private message and we would be overjoyed to tell you more)
But if you have already made the decision to become a Christian, and yet, you still choose to put other things before God…then you are just like Gomer, as well.
Your method of unfaithfulness may be obvious. Maybe you have a substance abuse addiction, are hiding something from your spouse, or are continuously unkind to your family.
Or, your unfaithfulness might be harder to spot. Maybe you slip into gossiping. Maybe you have a habit of turning towards worldly things for comfort— even if those worldly things seem innocuous.
Whatever it is today, repent. We may remember Gomer as the cheating spouse, but what matters in the end is that she chose Hosea and accepted his love and forgiveness.
Run back to God. He is waiting for you with open arms.
Journal Prompt
What do you choose over God? Repent and make a commitment today to turn to Him.
Extra Flavor Shot
Listen to this song and soak in the message: “Prodigal” by Sidewalk Prophets