Hardhearted August 14, 2019

Hosea 8:14 New International Version (NIV)

14 Israel has forgotten their Maker and built palaces;
    Judah has fortified many towns.
But I will send fire on their cities that will consume their fortresses.”

In prosperity, God's people left the LORD and followed their own gods and practiced their own morality. Except neither was "their own." The northern tribes of Israel simply became like the pagan people around them — practicing the same detestable immoral lifestyles, forgetting the poor and the alien, cheating the widows and the powerless. God wanted them to know that he knew what they were doing. The Almighty wanted them to realize that he would act and bring justice. The Sovereign LORD wanted the northern tribes of Israel to realize that they have sown their own destruction, and even though they cannot even fathom its possibility, God made sure it was coming because of their hardness of heart and their refusal to live with character. Their destruction is a great reminder to us that our name of Christian, our claim to be God's chosen people and his holy priesthood (1 Peter 2), doesn't matter unless our lives portray his character, our heart displays his compassion, and hands do his will.

Thought for today: Have I ever made up my mind about my interpretation of the word and God had to burn my “house” down? What did I learn in my process?