How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.
Hosea 11:8-9 (ESV)
Father, I know that You love me. Because of my broken condition I sometimes just don’t feel it. As I go through life and endure the challenges that continue to come my way – experiencing loss, heartache and grief, becoming weary with the grind – it is easy for me to be so consumed in it that I feel like I’m at it alone, plodding through it by myself, and enduring in isolation. And then, out of the blue, You remind me not just of Who You are, but more pointedly how You feel about me. Even now, my soul hears You whispering to my spirit, “How can I give you up? My heart recoils within me. My compassion towards you grows warm and tender.” My spirit can see You looking into my eyes, holding me gently close to You, and reminding me how much You love me. And today, I so needed that!
Thank You for loving me so much that You sent Your Son, my Brother and Savior, Jesus, Whose love for me was as deep and as intense as Yours. It was this love that You, my God, had for me that compelled You not to come to me in wrath, but instead to come into my midst through Christ in grace and mercy. You did not want to give me up, to be eternally separated from me. You did not want to hand me over to be consumed by my sin. You did not want to satisfy Your wrath through my death. But instead, in Your infinite wisdom, You placed upon my Savior my punishment. And because of His love, He willingly took it upon Himself. And to make sure that I am forever separated for You, Your Holy Spirit has come to live within me, sealing the deal! What manner of love is this?!
I worship You this morning, my God, King, Savior and Comforter. My soul bows down before You. Worthy are You, my God; there is no one like You! Thank You for Your incomprehensible love. Thank You for Your tender mercies. Thank You for loving the unlovable, forgiving the unforgivable, and redeeming the unredeemable! Oh for a thousand tongues to sing Your praises! I praise You for Who You are and what You have done! Thank You for all You have done for me! Amen!