Podcasts about Hosea

Welcome to The Daily. We are 13 days away from beginning our next book of the Bible. We are moving to the New Testament, 1 Peter. We are going to discover how to live holy in a hostile world. Go ahead and pick up your 1 Peter Scripture Journal now. And if you are a Project23 donor giving $35 or more per month, this has already been shipped to you. So become a donor and partner with us in Project23. Our text today is Hosea 13:2-3 And now they sin more and more,     and make for themselves metal images, idols skillfully made of their silver,     all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of them,     "Those who offer human sacrifice kiss calves!" Therefore they shall be like the morning mist     or like the dew that goes early away, like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor     or like smoke from a window. — Hosea 13:2-3 Israel kept building idols they believed would secure them, satisfy them, protect them, and give them meaning. They invested silver, skill, energy, and devotion into things they thought would save them. But God says all of it would disappear: like mist, like dew, like chaff, like smoke. In other words, it's all temporary. And our modern idols are no different. So I realize most people today do not bow before carved statues, but we still build gods with our time, attention, emotions, money, and devotion. Some people worship success. Others worship their ideal image. Some worship pleasure. Other worship politics. Some worship relationships. Still others worship comfort, control, entertainment, sexuality, or endless digital distraction. What makes idolatry dangerous is that it feels powerful in the moment. That is why people keep coming back to them. They promise relief. Validation. Escape. Security. Identity. But eventually, every false god we worship reveals the same truth: It cannot bear the weight of sustaining your soul, as tempting as it is to the flesh. That is why God compares idols to smoke. It's a total smokeshow. Every one of them looks substantial until life's deeper realities hit, and we go through suffering, loss, face death, loneliness, experience anxiety, guilt, and encounter the reality of eternity. And suddenly, the things we trusted start to evaporate before our eyes. The alarming part is not merely that idols fail. It is how long people keep pursuing them and worshipping them before admitting they cannot save them. Faithful believers must live differently in every generation. The culture will always normalize "new" idols. But God's people are called to recognize what is temporary and anchor themselves to what is eternal. Because only God remains when everything else fades. Here are some questions to consider today: What do I run to for comfort faster than I run to God? What absorbs my attention more than God? What feels devastating to lose because it has become too central in my life? Those answers will reveal our real gods. And the loving warning of Hosea is: don't build your life on things that disappear like smoke. This was the truth we discovered in Ecclesiastes, too. It's all smoke! Build your life today on the God who remains forever. DO THIS: Identify one thing in your life that may be competing for the place only God should hold in your heart. ASK THIS: What temporary thing have I been depending on too heavily? What do I fear losing most? Am I building my life on what fades or on what lasts? PRAY THIS: Father, expose every false god competing for my heart. Help me stop chasing temporary things and teach me to build my life fully on you alone. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Christ Be All Around Me"

A profound and revelatory teaching on what it truly means to be a disciple of Christ.Knowledge is Life: The Kingdom of God is where knowledge takes us far. "My people perish for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6) what distinguishes the poor from the rich is what they know.Understanding Life & Death: Death is a process it begins before the spirit leaves the body. We come from the spiritual world and are transitioning back to it. How much you know determines how quickly you reach the Father.Identity Shapes Learning: Your identity determines your attitude toward learning. Your name has influence over your life what you are named after will manifest. Abram became Abraham ("father of many nations") before he had a son; Jacob the deceiver became Israel ("one who wrestled with God and prevailed"). The changing of the name activated the blessing.What is a Disciple? The word "disciple" comes from the Greek Mathetes meaning learner, pupil, student. The disciples were first called "Christians" in Antioch (Acts 11:26) but Jesus called them to be learners of the Anointed One.Scriptures vs. The Word: We must distinguish the Scriptures from the Word of God (John 5:39-40). The Word became flesh (John 1:14) and it is our responsibility to turn the Word into flesh in our own lives.The Holy Spirit is Our Teacher: After the Messiah came, He left another Teacher the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 30:20).

Hard seasons don't have to produce hard hearts. Every season of difficulty presents us with a choice: to become bitter or to become better, to resist God or draw closer to Him. Our Heavenly Father calls us to keep our hearts tender, our ears open to His voice, and our lives responsive to His Word, even when He corrects us.Hosea 10:12 reminds us to “break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD.” As we seek Him, He softens the hardened places in our hearts so His Word can take root and produce lasting fruit. Don't allow difficult seasons to harden your heart. Instead, keep seeking Him, stay teachable, and trust that He is preparing you for everything He has ahead. As you stay tenderhearted, you will find His mercy and grace to bloom right where you're planted!Restore Church | Yorkville, ILSunday Mornings | 10 AMJordan & Melissa Gash, Pastorshttps://www.restorechurchyorkville.com

The message explores the profound, active love of God as depicted in Hosea 11, emphasizing His role as a devoted Father who pursues His children with tender care. It highlights how God teaches believers to walk through life, guides them with bonds of love, and heals them even when they fail or wander away. The preacher urges listeners to internalize these divine actions, transforming abstract theology into personal reality by recognizing God's constant presence in their daily struggles. Through examples of personal ministry and missionary work, the message illustrates that God's compassion is tangible, offering hope and strength amidst suffering. Ultimately, the text calls for a deepened awareness of being God's beloved sons and daughters, secured by His unyielding grace.

The message explores the profound, active love of God as depicted in Hosea 11, emphasizing His role as a devoted Father who pursues His children with tender care. It highlights how God teaches believers to walk through life, guides them with bonds of love, and heals them even when they fail or wander away. The preacher urges listeners to internalize these divine actions, transforming abstract theology into personal reality by recognizing God's constant presence in their daily struggles. Through examples of personal ministry and missionary work, the message illustrates that God's compassion is tangible, offering hope and strength amidst suffering. Ultimately, the text calls for a deepened awareness of being God's beloved sons and daughters, secured by His unyielding grace.

Welcome to The Daily. Partner with us in Project23. Grab your Hosea Scripture Journal. Our text today is Hosea 12:14 Ephraim has given bitter provocation;     so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him     and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds. — Hosea 12:14 Persistent defiance is dangerous with the Lord. Persistent defiance hears the truth repeatedly and keeps resisting it anyway. That is where Israel had arrived. God had warned them. Pursued them. Corrected them. Sent prophets to them. Called them to return. Yet they kept hardening themselves against Him. Eventually, wealth became resistance, which became rebellion. This still hardens believers today Very few people wake up one day and suddenly reject God completely. Most people slowly harden themselves over time. They ignore conviction long enough that their conscience grows quieter. They resist the truth long enough that compromise begins feeling normal. You can become so committed to your way of life that you stop recognizing God's warnings and mistake God's patience for God's approval. But God's patience is meant to lead us to repentance. That is why Hosea ends this chapter so strongly. God is loving enough to warn people before consequences fully arrive. He confronts defiance because He knows where defiance eventually leads. But even here, there is an invitation. Because the very fact that you are listening to this today means God is still speaking to you. So do not keep resisting Him. Lay down your pride. Stop defending your compromise. Stop ignoring God. Return while your heart is still just soft enough to respond. Because persistent defiance slowly hardens the soul. Bur surrender today, restore it. DO THIS: Respond immediately to one area of conviction God has been pressing on your heart instead of delaying or defending it. ASK THIS: Where have I been resisting God repeatedly? Have I mistaken God's patience for approval? What conviction do I need to respond to honestly today? PRAY THIS: Father, do not let my heart grow hard toward you. Help me respond quickly to your conviction, surrender fully to your truth, and remain soft and teachable before you. Amen. PLAY THIS: "I Surrender All"

August 2 - In just 15-20 minutes a day, you can listen to the entire Bible read through in a year, and/or watch the Bible verses on the screen. Each day, you will hear some of the New Testament, some of the Old Testament, and some of Psalms or Proverbs. You will read through Psalms and Proverbs twice in the year. Today's reading is James 3; Hosea 5-8; and Psalm 32. You can get through the entire Bible in a year listening to it on the way to and from work each day. The elderly with bad eyesight can now see the Bible verses in large print right on the screen. Little children, just learning how to read, can now read along by seeing and hearing each word pronounced. Imagine little children accomplishing something that many adults never do even once in their lifetimes--reading through the entire Bible. Get a free printed copy of the Bible Reading Schedule at LibertyGospelTracts.com. The Books are read in chronological order, which really helps you to understand the order that things happened. We offer free certificates at the end of the year, for those who read through the entire Bible. Just write to us to request one. May God bless you as you read through all that God has written for us.

August 2 - In just 15-20 minutes a day, you can listen to the entire Bible read through in a year, and/or watch the Bible verses on the screen. Each day, you will hear some of the New Testament, some of the Old Testament, and some of Psalms or Proverbs. You will read through Psalms and Proverbs twice in the year. Today's reading is James 3; Hosea 5-8; and Psalm 32. You can get through the entire Bible in a year listening to it on the way to and from work each day. The elderly with bad eyesight can now see the Bible verses in large print right on the screen. Little children, just learning how to read, can now read along by seeing and hearing each word pronounced. Imagine little children accomplishing something that many adults never do even once in their lifetimes--reading through the entire Bible. Get a free printed copy of the Bible Reading Schedule at LibertyGospelTracts.com. The Books are read in chronological order, which really helps you to understand the order that things happened. We offer free certificates at the end of the year, for those who read through the entire Bible. Just write to us to request one. May God bless you as you read through all that God has written for us.

Welcome to The Daily. Partner with us in Project23. Grab your Hosea Scripture Journal. Our text today is Hosea 12:12-13 Jacob fled to the land of Aram;     there Israel served for a wife,     and for a wife he guarded sheep. By a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt,     and by a prophet he was guarded. — Hosea 12:12-13 Today, Hosea brings Israel back to Jacob. Jacob was not impressive at first. He was running. Vulnerable. Uncertain. Working long days guarding sheep and trying to survive. In the same way, Israel's story did not begin with strength. It began with dependence. That is how most of us begin. Unpolished. Tired. Broken. Searching. Wandering people. People who realize they can no longer carry themselves. Remember, your spiritual beginnings matter. It reminds you who you were before God changed you. It keeps gratitude alive. It keeps pride from taking over. It reminds you that your life today was built on grace, not self-sufficiency. I think about this often in my own life. Some of my earliest spiritual memories take me back to sitting with my grandfather in his old '58 Chevy truck. Simple moments. Conversations about God. Quiet beginnings that did not seem monumental at the time, yet God was planting seeds that would shape the rest of my life. And those humble beginnings are still important to me. Because remembering where God first met me softens me. It reminds me that everything meaningful God has done in my life started with His grace long before I understood what He was doing. Believers become spiritually dangerous when they forget their beginnings. They start acting self-made. Self-righteous. Independent. Self-important. And this weakens your dependence on God. So remember your story. Remember the prayers prayed over you. Remember the people God used. Remember the moments you were desperate for Him. Remember the season when faith was simple and honest and dependent. Go back there for a moment. Back to the moment you first realized you needed God. Back to the grace that found you and dependent on the God who carried you this far. And if you feel so convicted, share that moment in the comments below. DO THIS: Spend time today remembering and thanking God for the people, moments, and humble beginnings He used to draw you toward Him. ASK THIS: Have I forgotten where God first found me? What early moments or people helped shape my faith? How can remembering my beginnings deepen my humility today? PRAY THIS: Father, thank you for meeting me in my weakness and drawing me to yourself. Help me never forget the humble beginnings of my faith or lose sight of the grace that carried me here. Amen. PLAY THIS: "God of All My Days"

Most people don't ruin their lives because they lack truth—they ruin them because they ignore what God already taught them. Summary Hosea 12 is a direct and corrective chapter calling God's people to remember, return, and respond before destruction deepens. By pointing back to Jacob, God reminds Israel that transformation comes through wrestling honestly with him—not through manipulation, resistance, or self-reliance. The chapter exposes how people repeatedly hear the truth yet slowly stop responding to it, eventually suffering the consequences of persistent disobedience. Hosea 12 warns that God is patient and merciful, but that truth and obedience still matter, and that the harvest of rebellion will eventually come. Reflection & Small Group Discussion Questions 1. Why do people often repeat destructive cycles even after God has already taught them important lessons? 2. What does Jacob's wrestling with God teach us about spiritual transformation? 3. Why do many believers want relief or quick fixes instead of true surrender? 4. How can manipulation and striving quietly replace trust in God? 5. What are some signs that a person is spiritually exhausted from trying to control outcomes? 6. Why is familiarity with truth not the same as obedience to truth? 7. How does repeated exposure to Scripture sometimes harden people instead of changing them? 8. What does Hosea 12 teach about God's patience and eventual consequences? 9. What "warnings" or "lessons" from God do you need to remember right now? 10. What is one area where God may be calling you to stop resisting and finally surrender?

What’s Next: Section Two WEEK FIFTY ONE: WEEKLY READING PAGE 124 Nitzavim “standing” Torah: Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 Nevi’im: Prophets/Poetic: Daniel 7-12; Hosea 10-14; Joel 1-3; Amos 1-2 Brit Chadashah: New Testament: Revelation 13-14 Scripture Memory: 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, seeing whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not know that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.”

What’s Next: Section Two WEEK FIFTY ONE: WEEKLY READING PAGE 124 Nitzavim “standing” Torah: Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 Nevi’im: Prophets/Poetic: Daniel 7-12; Hosea 10-14; Joel 1-3; Amos 1-2 Brit Chadashah: New Testament: Revelation 13-14 Scripture Memory: 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, seeing whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not know that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.”

What’s Next: Section Two WEEK FIFTY ONE: WEEKLY READING PAGE 124 Nitzavim “standing” Torah: Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 Nevi’im: Prophets/Poetic: Daniel 7-12; Hosea 10-14; Joel 1-3; Amos 1-2 Brit Chadashah: New Testament: Revelation 13-14 Scripture Memory: 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, seeing whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not know that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.”

August 1 - In just 15-20 minutes a day, you can listen to the entire Bible read through in a year, and/or watch the Bible verses on the screen. Each day, you will hear some of the New Testament, some of the Old Testament, and some of Psalms or Proverbs. You will read through Psalms and Proverbs twice in the year. Today's reading is James 2; Hosea 1-4; and Psalm 31. You can get through the entire Bible in a year listening to it on the way to and from work each day. The elderly with bad eyesight can now see the Bible verses in large print right on the screen. Little children, just learning how to read, can now read along by seeing and hearing each word pronounced. Imagine little children accomplishing something that many adults never do even once in their lifetimes--reading through the entire Bible. Get a free printed copy of the Bible Reading Schedule at LibertyGospelTracts.com. The Books are read in chronological order, which really helps you to understand the order that things happened. We offer free certificates at the end of the year, for those who read through the entire Bible. Just write to us to request one. May God bless you as you read through all that God has written for us.

August 1 - In just 15-20 minutes a day, you can listen to the entire Bible read through in a year, and/or watch the Bible verses on the screen. Each day, you will hear some of the New Testament, some of the Old Testament, and some of Psalms or Proverbs. You will read through Psalms and Proverbs twice in the year. Today's reading is James 2; Hosea 1-4; and Psalm 31. You can get through the entire Bible in a year listening to it on the way to and from work each day. The elderly with bad eyesight can now see the Bible verses in large print right on the screen. Little children, just learning how to read, can now read along by seeing and hearing each word pronounced. Imagine little children accomplishing something that many adults never do even once in their lifetimes--reading through the entire Bible. Get a free printed copy of the Bible Reading Schedule at LibertyGospelTracts.com. The Books are read in chronological order, which really helps you to understand the order that things happened. We offer free certificates at the end of the year, for those who read through the entire Bible. Just write to us to request one. May God bless you as you read through all that God has written for us.

Israel has taken the lavish blessings of their God and given those gifts to the calf idols of Baal, turning away from the covenant love of the God who redeemed them and turning to love other gods. Therefore, the Lord will discipline his people for their rebellion. Through Hosea, God remarks that he raised Israel like a father raises children, lamenting the calamity that will come upon them, promising that He will not release His full wrath upon them. The book of Hosea ends with a call to repentance. If God's people will turn back to Him, they will flourish once again. Hosea 8 - 1:11 .  Hosea 9 - 3:53 .  Hosea 10 - 8:36 .  Hosea 11 - 12:06 .  Hosea 12 - 15:45 .  Hosea 13 - 18:14 .  Hosea 14 - 21:29 .  Psalm 109 - 23:50 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Welcome to The Daily. Partner with us in Project23. Grab your Hosea Scripture Journal. Our text today is Hosea 12:9-11 I am the Lord your God     from the land of Egypt; I will again make you dwell in tents,     as in the days of the appointed feast. I spoke to the prophets;     it was I who multiplied visions,     and through the prophets gave parables. If there is iniquity in Gilead,     they shall surely come to nothing: in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls;     their altars also are like stone heaps     on the furrows of the field. — Hosea 12:9-11 Truth is a gift delivered by God's voice through his prophets of old. God had not been silent. He warned Israel. Corrected them. Called them back. Sent faithful messengers to confront their drift and lead them toward repentance. But Israel preferred comfort over correction. This is true for us all. Most people naturally look for voices that affirm them, validate them, entertain them, or tell them exactly what they want to hear. But faithful teachers are different. Faithful teachers tell people not merely what they want to hear, but what they need to hear. And that kind of truth and person can be uncomfortable because truth exposes pride. Truth confronts compromise. Truth challenges drift. Truth calls us to repentance, surrender, holiness, and change. But the discomfort we feel is actually mercy. Faithful teachers are not trying to control your life. Faithful teachers are trying to keep you from destroying it. That is why believers need to learn to listen willingly to the truth, even when it cuts deeply. But not every voice speaking about God is faithful to God—or a faithful teacher. Some teachers soften sin. Some reshape Scripture to match cultural trends. Some avoid the hard truth to retain approval. Some preach comfort without repentance, grace without holiness, or blessing without surrender. On the other hand, faithful teachers lovingly teach the whole truth because they know that truth is what produces real transformation. And we all need faithful voices in our lives. Not just voices that inspire us. Voices that sharpen us. Correct us. Challenge us. And lovingly call us back when we drift. Spiritual growth does not happen by accident. It happens when humble believers remain teachable before God. So do not resist the inconvenient truth simply because it makes you uncomfortable. Lean into it today. God wants to use it to change your life. DO THIS: Identify one faithful teacher, pastor, mentor, or biblical voice that consistently points you toward truth, repentance, and surrender—and intentionally lean into their teaching this week. ASK THIS: Do I seek truth or just affirmation? What biblical truth have I been resisting lately? Am I willing to let God change me through faithful correction? PRAY THIS: Father, give me humility to listen to faithful truth even when it challenges me. Protect me from voices that only comfort me, and lead me toward teachers who faithfully point me back to you. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Faithful"

Not much is known about the background of the prophet Hosea, save what is mentioned in this record of his prophecies. By referencing the kings under which he prophesied, we can see that his ministry of prophecy lasted around 40 years. Like Amos, Hosea spoke to the nation of Israel, often referenced as “Ephraim” in this book, under a time of lavish wealth and disparate poverty. Israel was being unfaithful to their God, and like the unfaithful nation the Lord has committed himself to love, Hosea is commanded to marry an unfaithful woman. Hosea's pursuit of his unfaithful wife serves a parallel to God's pursuit of unfaithful Israel. Hosea 1 - 1:08 .  Hosea 2 - 3:31 .  Hosea 3 - 9:05 .  Hosea 4 - 10:09 .  Hosea 5 - 13:51 .  Hosea 6 - 17:43 .  Hosea 7 - 19:44 .  Psalm 108 - 22:59 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

In Hosea 9, we continue to see how Israel's story reflects our own tendency to forget who we were created to be. Even in the midst of our brokenness, God lovingly pursues us, using both grace and discipline to call us back to Himself and restore our true identity.

Welcome to The Daily. Partner with us in Project23. Grab your Hosea Scripture Journal. Our text today is Hosea 12:7-8 A merchant, in whose hands are false balances,     he loves to oppress. Ephraim has said, "Ah, but I am rich;     I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin."— Hosea 12:7-8 Prosperity can convince you that you are spiritually healthy simply because life is going well. That was Israel's problem. They had wealth. Growth. Stability. Business success. Expanding influence. And because things looked prosperous outwardly, they assumed nothing was wrong inwardly. Prosperity had blinded them. And prosperity can do the same thing to us. When life is comfortable, we stop examining ourselves. Success can numb spiritual conviction. Wealth can create the illusion of security. Comfort can slowly blind us to pride, compromise, selfishness, greed, spiritual drift, and dependence on ourselves instead of God. That is the threat running underneath the entire book of Hosea. Israel became prosperous and slowly lost sight of God. Blindness is the perfect metaphor for this condition because blind people often do not realize they are blind. That is what deception does. It convinces you everything is fine while your soul quietly drifts farther from God. We see this all the time today. People assume that a good income means God's approval, that career growth means spiritual maturity, that comfort means blessing, and that outward success means inward health. Meanwhile, marriages quietly weaken, prayer disappears, surrender fades, hearts grow hard, and souls slowly starve underneath polished lives. Prosperity is not the problem. Blind prosperity is the problem. When prosperity convinces you that you no longer desperately need God, your prosperity has already blinded you. And maybe that is why some of the most spiritually eye-opening moments in life happen during loss, weakness, failure, or desperation. Pain has a way of restoring vision. It reminds us how dependent we actually are. So has comfort slowly blinded you? Has success reduced your dependence on God? Don't let prosperity blind you. Let it humble you and deepen your dependence on God. DO THIS: Take inventory today of where comfort, success, or stability may have reduced your dependence on God. ASK THIS: Where has prosperity made me spiritually passive? What success or comfort am I trusting more than God? How can I intentionally deepen my dependence on Him again? PRAY THIS: Father, do not let comfort or success blind me spiritually. Keep my heart humble, dependent, and fully aware of how deeply I need you every day. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Give Me Jesus"

Develop a hunger for God's Word and grow in true righteousness.Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." But what does that mean for believers today? In this episode, Rick Hughes explains why God's Word is the believer's greatest treasure, the difference between imputed and experiential righteousness, and how consistent Bible teaching equips Christians to grow spiritually and glorify God. What You'll Learn:• Why Scripture warns that nations decline when God's Word is rejected (Hosea 4:6). • The difference between imputed righteousness at salvation and experiential righteousness in the Christian life. • Why lasting happiness is connected to hungering and thirsting for righteousness. • How the filling of the Holy Spirit and Bible doctrine work together for spiritual growth. • Why every believer needs consistent instruction from a well-qualified pastor to mature spiritually. Listen to the episode, follow the podcast, and share it with someone who wants to grow in God's Word.⬇Download Transcript: https://rhem.pub/1092-transcript

Welcome to The Daily. Partner with us in Project23. Grab your Hosea Scripture Journal. Our text today is Hosea 12:5-6 the Lord, the God of hosts,     the Lord is his memorial name: "So you, by the help of your God, return,     hold fast to love and justice,     and wait continually for your God." — Hosea 12:5-6 Drifting from God happens quietly. You stop praying like you used to. You stop listening closely. You get distracted, tired, disappointed, busy, or numb. And eventually, you realize you still know about God while feeling distant from Him at the same time. That is why Hosea says: "Return." I love that word because it means God still wants wandering people back. And notice that we get help for the return. The text says: "By the help of your God, return…" God is not standing far away waiting for you to figure it all out first. He is helping you come home. Maybe that is what He is doing right now. Maybe you have been exhausted pretending. Maybe you have drifted slowly. Maybe you feel distant, cold, compromised, or spiritually numb. You do not have to remain that way or there. Return to the Lord. You don't have to clean yourself up first. He knows you are not perfect. The Father wants you to come back to him. Some of you already feel the Lord tugging on your heart right now. Do not ignore that. Stop drifting and come home. If you are ready to return to God today, write this in the comments below: "I'm coming home." DO THIS: Spend five quiet minutes today talking honestly with God about where you have drifted from Him. ASK THIS: Where have I slowly drifted from God? What is keeping me from returning honestly today? PRAY THIS: Father, thank you for still wanting me even after I have drifted. Help me return to you with honesty, surrender, and trust today. Amen. PLAY THIS: "O Come to the Altar"

If the Old Testament prophet Hosea is known for anything, it is because God orders him to marry a "promiscuous woman".And though this action dominates the early part of Hosea's book, it is not even referred to in the later chapters. The marriage is simply a teachable moment to alert Israel's Jews of the danger of worshipping gods that aren't God, but it is the tragedy that befalls a nation which abandons God that is spelled out here.If it's righteous anger delivered with a poetic punch you're after, you're in for a treat.Written and produced by Chas BayfieldMusic by Michael Auld and Jon Hawkins MusicCover art by Lisa GoffE: contact@whollybuyable.comX: Wholly Buyable Podcast

Share a commentIf your week is ruled by deadlines, ambition, and the quiet fear of falling behind, you already know how easy it is to turn productivity into identity. We name that pressure out loud and challenge the story our culture tells: you are not significant because of what you produce or what you accomplish. We argue for a different center of gravity, a Christian identity grounded in who you are in Christ Jesus, and we explain why a weekly rhythm of rest is not weakness but wisdom.We walk through the warning signs of workaholism, from unchanging schedules to an inability to say no, and we connect that pace to the way our bodies and souls eventually revolt. Then we open the Bible to Exodus 20 and the fourth commandment, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,” showing how God bakes a maintenance schedule into human life. God does not rest because he is tired; he rests to set an example for finite people who live like they are omnipotent.We also tackle a common question with clear Scripture: why do Christians worship on Sunday instead of Saturday? We trace the Sabbath as a covenant sign for Israel (Ezekiel 20), the setting aside of that sign amid rebellion (Hosea 2), and the New Testament pattern of the Lord's Day shaped by the resurrection, Pentecost, and early church practice (Acts 20:7). From there, we get practical: what a set-apart day looks like, why rest must include physical, emotional, and spiritual change, and how worship strengthens, cleanses, refocuses, and encourages a busy congregation.If you want a biblical approach to Sabbath rest, Sunday worship, spiritual renewal, and church community that actually changes your Monday, listen through and take one concrete step this week. Subscribe, share this with a friend who is running on fumes, and leave a review with the boundary you're going to practice.Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/Support the show

Share a commentIf your week is ruled by deadlines, ambition, and the quiet fear of falling behind, you already know how easy it is to turn productivity into identity. We name that pressure out loud and challenge the story our culture tells: you are not significant because of what you produce or what you accomplish. We argue for a different center of gravity, a Christian identity grounded in who you are in Christ Jesus, and we explain why a weekly rhythm of rest is not weakness but wisdom.We walk through the warning signs of workaholism, from unchanging schedules to an inability to say no, and we connect that pace to the way our bodies and souls eventually revolt. Then we open the Bible to Exodus 20 and the fourth commandment, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,” showing how God bakes a maintenance schedule into human life. God does not rest because he is tired; he rests to set an example for finite people who live like they are omnipotent.We also tackle a common question with clear Scripture: why do Christians worship on Sunday instead of Saturday? We trace the Sabbath as a covenant sign for Israel (Ezekiel 20), the setting aside of that sign amid rebellion (Hosea 2), and the New Testament pattern of the Lord's Day shaped by the resurrection, Pentecost, and early church practice (Acts 20:7). From there, we get practical: what a set-apart day looks like, why rest must include physical, emotional, and spiritual change, and how worship strengthens, cleanses, refocuses, and encourages a busy congregation.If you want a biblical approach to Sabbath rest, Sunday worship, spiritual renewal, and church community that actually changes your Monday, listen through and take one concrete step this week. Subscribe, share this with a friend who is running on fumes, and leave a review with the boundary you're going to practice.Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/Support the show

From “In the Beginning” to Amen –What Does God Really Want of Me? Micah 6:6-8 (NLT)“What can we bring to the LORD? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:1-5 (NLT)“Listen to what the LORD is saying: ‘Stand up and state your case against me. Let the mountains and hills be called to witness your complaints. And now, O mountains, listen to the LORD 's complaint! He has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel. O my people, what have I done to you? What have I done to make you tired of me? Answer me! For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you. Don't you remember, my people, how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead? And remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal, when I, the LORD, did everything I could to teach you about my faithfulness.'” God Doesn't Want Empty Religion 1 Samuel 15:22 (NASB)Samuel tells Saul: "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." Hosea 6:6 (NKJV)“I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." Amos 5:21-24 (NIV)“I hate your festivals…I will not accept your offerings…Instead, let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." Isaiah 1:11-17 (NLT)“God says, ‘I am tired of your offerings. When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony? Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting— they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings. I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals. They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them! Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.'" Obedience Has Always Mattered More Than Ceremony God Has Told Us What He Wants (Micah 6:8) Do Justly or Do Justice Love Mercy Matthew 18:33 (NLT)“Shouldn't you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?” Walk Humbly with God Do Justice. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly with God. The Gospel Isn't "Try Harder”, It's "Trust Christ.” God Isn't Interested in or Impressed by Religious Activity That Leaves Our Character Unchanged

Welcome to The Daily. Partner with us in Project23. Grab your Hosea Scripture Journal. Our text today is Hosea 12:2-4 The Lord has an indictment against Judah     and will punish Jacob according to his ways;     he will repay him according to his deeds. In the womb he took his brother by the heel,     and in his manhood he strove with God. He strove with the angel and prevailed;     he wept and sought his favor. He met God at Bethel,     and there God spoke with us— Hosea 12:2-4 People do not change when they are informed. They change when they are broken. That is the story of Jacob. From the very beginning, Jacob was a fighter. A manipulator. A controller. Even in the womb, he was "grabbing at the heel" of his brother. His whole life became a picture of striving, scheming, and trying to force outcomes through his own strength. And many of us live the same way. We wrestle for control, approval, success, identity, security, recognition, and outcomes we are terrified of losing. We think everything depends on us. But eventually, self-reliance exhausts the soul. That is why Jacob's turning point did not happen when he became successful. It happened when he finally broke. Hosea says: "He wept and sought his favor." That is a very different Jacob. In a moment, the self-sufficient manipulator is gone. Gone is the man who pretended he could control everything. Now Jacob is desperate, humbled, limping, and finally honest enough to stop wrestling against God and start surrendering to Him. That is where real transformation begins for us, too. Most people do not surrender while life is working. They surrender when: The marriage becomes unbearable, The addiction becomes undeniable, The exhaustion becomes overwhelming, The striving stops working, or The false version of themselves finally collapses. I know that feeling personally. There have been seasons in my life where I kept trying harder, leading harder, serving harder, pushing harder—thinking a breakthrough would come through effort alone. But eventually, I reached moments where I realized the real issue was not my circumstances. It was my unwillingness to surrender. And that breaking felt painful at the time. But looking back now, I can see it differently. God was not destroying me. He was dismantling the false self I kept trying to save. That is what God often does in breaking seasons. He strips away self-reliance so we finally discover dependence on Him. And maybe that is where you are today. Maybe you are exhausted. But hear this clearly. Breaking is not always the end of you. Sometimes when we are broken down, God breaks open the real you. The version surrendered to God instead of striving against Him. So stop fighting in your breaking. Let the breaking humble you. Let your brokenness soften you. Let the breaking teach you dependence. Stop wrestling God and surrender to Him. DO THIS: Stop pretending to be strong today. Bring one area of exhaustion, failure, fear, or striving honestly before God and surrender it to Him. ASK THIS: What am I still trying to control? Where is God trying to break my self-reliance? What would surrender look like instead of striving? PRAY THIS: Father, I am tired of striving in my own strength. Break down the pride and self-reliance in me, and teach me to surrender fully to you instead of wrestling against you. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Broken Vessels"

Sermon Title: "We've Got A Hearing Problem"*****There is a solitary, humble, wooden structure on a windswept hill in rural New England. To open the door is to engage our minds, our hearts, and our imaginations. In this place, preachers and professors, past and present, come alive as they walk the aisle, ascend the pulpit stairs, and teach…from theology, from history, and from the Word of God. Welcome to the Saybrook Meetinghouse, an audio production of Saybrook Ministries. Saybrook Ministries' vision is to inspire and invigorate Christians with imaginative and intellectual content.Saybrook Ministries' mission is to provide didactic and devotional content from the Christian faith delivered to the saints; recovered and refined by the Protestant Reformation.Saybrook Ministries' prayer is that our content will be (1) to Christians convinced of Reformation truths: encouraging & powerful; (2) to Christians unconvinced of Reformation truths: educational & persuasive; (3) to non-Christians: engaging & prophetic.Saybrook Ministries' four foundational scriptures are: The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times (Psalm 12:6). The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. And the wise among the people shall make many understand (Daniel 11:32b-33a). And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD have not forsaken those who seek you (Psalm 9:10). Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth (Hosea 6:3).

Today Pastor Jason walks through Hosea Chapter 4.  In this chapter we see a courtroom scene is set as God brings His case against His people. The charge: there is no truth, no faithful love, and no knowledge of God in the land. In this message, we examine the danger of allowing culture to redefine truth, the devastating consequences of biblical ignorance, and the responsibility every believer has to know and proclaim the gospel faithfully. While Hosea delivers a stern warning against compromise and spiritual drift, it also reveals the grace of a God who lovingly restrains His people from destruction and continually calls them back to Himself. Discover why true freedom is found not in following the culture, but in pursuing the truth of God's Word.

Reading through the Bible chronologically

We're unpacking the surprising story of Jesus calling a hated tax collector named Matthew to follow Him. Along the way, we see how to read Scripture well, tracing Jesus's quote of Hosea 6:6 back to its Old Testament roots and uncovering a special Hebrew word that describes God's relentless, loving-kindness. We see a picture of a God who pursues us in our mess, even when we've been the ones who walked away. You'll be challenged to stop treating Jesus as just one priority among many and instead surrender every part of your life to Him. Wherever you find yourself today, outcast, reluctant, or somewhere in between, Jesus is still saying the same three words he said to Matthew: "Follow Me." Speaker: Joel Burke and Diego Garcia

Hosea's final chapter reveals repentance not as punishment, but as God's gracious invitation into healing, mercy, and flourishing through Christ.

We've all read the headlines that cause our stomachs to drop. When you read the ancient prophet Hosea, it can feel like one of those headlines - a story of heartbreak, betrayal, and self-destruction. But it's there, in the midst of humanity's deepest brokenness and rejection, that the God of the Bible responds with relentless mercy and love. Just when you think all hope is lost, God's unwillingness to give up stares you in the face. Just when you think there's no possible way forward, his love breaks through with a heart-stopping invitation: “Come back to me.”

Welcome to The Daily. Partner with us in Project23. Grab your Hosea Scripture Journal. Our text today is Hosea 12:1 Ephraim feeds on the wind     and pursues the east wind all day long; they multiply falsehood and violence;     they make a covenant with Assyria,     and oil is carried to Egypt. — Hosea 12:1 Some people are exhausted because they are spending their lives chasing things that can never satisfy them. "Ephraim feeds on the wind." What an image. They were trying to fill themselves with something that had no substance. Chasing things they thought would finally satisfy them, secure them, validate them, or give them peace. But in the end, they were consuming emptiness. And honestly, that sounds like modern life. People chase: more money, more success, more followers, more comfort, more experiences, more possessions, more attention, more productivity, more control. And the frightening part is this: some people actually achieve the "more" they were chasing, only to discover they are still empty when they get there. Because the soul, your soul, was never designed to feed on temporary things. That is why so many people today are emotionally exhausted. We live in a culture addicted to striving. We are constantly told: achieve more, earn more, optimize more, improve more, consume more, become more. But eventually, the human soul starts to collapse under the weight of endless pursuit. And underneath all that exhaustion is often a deeper spiritual problem. We are trying to get created things to give us what only God can give us. Peace. Identity. Worth. Rest. Security. Meaning. But "feeding on the wind" never works. Wind will not nourish you. And neither can all the striving. I have learned that exhaustion is sometimes a warning light on the dashboard of the soul. It reveals that we are trying to sustain ourselves on things that were never meant to carry the weight of our lives. That is why Jesus speaks so differently than the world. The world says: chase more. Jesus says: come to me. The world says: prove yourself. Jesus says: abide in me. The world says: work harder. Jesus says: rest in me. So if your soul feels exhausted today, stop trying to get more from the wind you are chasing. The first step toward peace is finally admitting that the life you are chasing is not actually sustaining you. So slow down. Turn toward God again. Open His Word. Pray honestly. Sit quietly. Surrender control. Rest instead of striving. Because the soul that feeds on God no longer has to live feeding on the wind. DO THIS: Identify one exhausting pursuit in your life that is not truly feeding your soul, and intentionally surrender it to God today. ASK THIS: What am I chasing that still leaves me empty? Where am I feeding on "wind" instead of God? What practical step would help me slow down and reconnect with God today? PRAY THIS: Father, I am tired of feeding my soul with things that cannot sustain me. Teach me to stop striving for what leaves me empty and help me find true rest, peace, and purpose in you. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Run To The Father"

Send us Fan MailKen Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison continue Romans in season 18, episode 21, finishing Romans 9:14–33 from the Revised Standard Version. They discuss Paul's “therefore/what shall we say” style of arguing against a fictitious objector and explore whether God is unjust in choosing whom to show mercy and whom to harden, using Moses, Pharaoh, and the potter-and-clay image. Rocky notes these passages support Calvinistic predestination but finds “how dare you question God” unsatisfying, explaining his move to Methodist/Arminian free-will theology while still stressing God's mystery and goodness and the legitimacy of asking questions. They cover Paul's Old Testament citations (Hosea and Isaiah) with historical context about Israel's division and Assyria's conquest, and conclude with Paul's main point: Gentiles attain righteousness by faith, while Israel stumbles by pursuing law-based works; salvation comes down to faith in Christ.00:00 Welcome and Heatwave 00:44 Romans 9 Reading 03:48 Is God Unjust 05:38 Mercy and Pharaoh 09:13 Potter and Clay 15:01 Wrath and Calling 17:22 Hosea and Isaiah Context 23:28 Faith Not Works Finale 26:29 Closing Thoughts 27:53 Sign OffNEW!: Rate us at Podchaser  Find us at www.pondergmc.org. Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team.Cover Art: Joe WagnerRecorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock 

“In their affliction they will seek Me early.” — Hosea 5:15 Losses and adversities are frequently the means which the great Shepherd uses to fetch home His wandering sheep; like fierce dogs they worry the wanderers back to the fold. There is no making lions tame if they are too well fed; they must be […]

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Even after years of rebellion, there is still a Father who has not stopped calling you home. Summary Hosea 11 reveals one of the most emotional portraits of God in the entire Old Testament—a Father teaching, correcting, grieving, and still loving children who continually walk away. God describes himself not as distant or cold, but as patient and compassionate, repeatedly teaching his people to "walk" in obedience and dependence. Yet the chapter also exposes the heartbreak of rebellion as Israel continually resists truth and pursues its own way. In the end, Hosea 11 reminds us that judgment is not God's delight; his heart is still to pursue, restore, and bring wandering children back home. Reflection & Small Group Discussion Questions 1. Why do many people struggle to see God as a loving Father? 2. What does it mean that God "teaches us to walk" (Hosea 11:3)? 3. How does pride make people spiritually "hard of hearing"? 4. Why does God continue pursuing people even after repeated disobedience? 5. What does Hosea 11 teach about the emotional heart of God toward rebellious people? 6. How can past wounds from earthly fathers distort our understanding of God? 7. Why do people often seek justification instead of truth when confronting sin? 8. What does God's question, "How can I give you up?" reveal about his compassion? 9. How can judgment and compassion coexist in the character of God? 10. What area of your life might God be calling you to stop running from and finally surrender?

Welcome to The Daily. Partner with us in Project23. Grab your Hosea Scripture Journal. Our text today is Hosea 11:12: Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,     and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still walks with God     and is faithful to the Holy One. — Hosea 11:12 One of the most dangerous things about performative faith is that it can look spiritual on the outside while your heart quietly drifts from God underneath. That is Hosea's warning in this last verse. "Ephraim has surrounded me with lies." This is not atheism. These are still religious people. They still carried the identity of God's people. They still maintained appearances. But underneath it all was deceit. They were close outwardly but distant inwardly. And honestly, modern Christianity struggles with this greatly. We call ourselves Christians, but often do not live surrendered lives. We celebrate Christmas and Easter without stopping to consider the weight and wonder of what those days actually mean. We avoid hard biblical truths when culture drags them into politics. We stay passive about sin, passive about truth, passive about surrender, while still wanting the comfort of religious identity. That is performative religion. It looks faithful without needing surrender. And the unnerving part is that you can do spiritual things for years without actually walking closely with God. Folks, there is a massive difference between serving God and surrendering to God. Serving can sometimes be done out of obligation, duty, routine, or even image management. But surrender happens when you finally realize there is nowhere else to go. Surrender is dependence. Surrender is honesty. Surrender is living open-handed before God, rather than merely performing spiritual activities around Him. And, honestly, this is something I constantly guard against in my own life and ministry. Even these devotionals could become performative if I am not careful. Ministry can become another way to build identity, seek approval, or maintain appearances if surrender quietly disappears underneath it all. That is why I have learned that I must surrender a little more in my service every day. Because God does not merely want my service. He wants me. And He wants you too. Not the polished version. Not the religious version. Not the image-managed version. The real you. The surrendered you. So after all the compassion, pursuit, mercy, and restoration in this chapter, God is still after something deeper than outward religion. He wants hearts that truly belong to Him. Stop settling for performative faith. Do not just serve around God while staying emotionally distant from Him. Surrender to Him. Right now. Because the Father we keep running from is still inviting us closer. DO THIS: Ask God today to expose any place where your faith has become routine, performative, or image-driven instead of deeply surrendered. ASK THIS: Am I serving God while resisting surrender to God? Where has my faith become more performative than personal? What would deeper surrender look like for me right now? PRAY THIS: Father, protect me from performative faith. Teach me to live surrendered instead of merely religious, and help my outward life flow from a heart that truly belongs to you. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Nothing Else"

Psalm 89:9-13, Hosea 11:12-14:9, Romans 9:1-21. God is sovereign He rules and reigns in his universe

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Welcome to The Daily. Partner with us in Project23. Grab your Hosea Scripture Journal. Our text today is Hosea 11:10-11: They shall go after the Lord; he will roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west; they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria, and I will return them to their homes, declares the Lord. — Hosea 11:10-11 Every person is searching for a place to belong. A home. An identity. A place of security, purpose, rest, and acceptance. The problem is that many people spend their lives trying to build that identity for themselves instead of receiving it from the Father. And in this chapter, the Father is calling his children home. Listen: "They shall go after the LORD… his children shall come trembling…" They are returning, but trembling. And why? Because returning to God often requires leaving behind the false identities we built to survive without Him. And that can feel terrifying. I remember a moment like that in my own life. When I finally left my mother's home for good as a teenager, I knew I could not continue living under the same dysfunction anymore. But at the same time, I also knew I was not fully prepared to survive on my own. Leaving meant uncertainty. It meant leaving behind whatever comfort and security I thought I had, even though much of it was unstable and unhealthy. It meant stepping into a world that felt much bigger than me. New responsibilities. New fears. New realities. But looking back now, I can see something deeper happening underneath it all. God was teaching me that true security would never be found in unstable people, self-reliance, or the false identities I was trying to build for myself. And many people are still trapped there today. Some people build an identity through achievement. Some through success. Some through relationships. Some through appearance, control, performance, politics, pleasure, or approval. But eventually those identities start collapsing under the weight of expectations they were never designed to carry. Because identity is not something we ultimately earn, achieve, or accomplish. It is something we receive from the Father. That is why this text feels so much like the prodigal sons. Returning home means laying down both self-reliance (the younger son) and self-righteousness (the older son). It means finally admitting that life apart from the Father cannot give us what we were searching for. God is still calling people home. Not to shame them. Not to humiliate them. Not to reject them. But to restore them. You were never made to carry your own identity alone. You were made to receive it from the God who calls you His child. So stop trying to build a false version of yourself strong enough to save you. Come home to the Father. Because that is where your real identity has been waiting all along. DO THIS: Identify one false identity you have been trying to build your life on, and surrender it honestly to God today. ASK THIS: What identity have I been trying to earn instead of receive? Where have I confused achievement with worth? What would it look like for me to come home to the Father again? PRAY THIS: Father, I am tired of trying to build my identity apart from you. Help me surrender false versions of myself and teach me to receive the identity, love, and purpose only you can give. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Homecoming"

Psalm 89:1-8, Hosea 10:1-11:11, Romans 8:18-39. And if it is true of you, it is also true of me God loves me and you

Sometimes, you can get discouraged reading certain books of the Bible, especially the ones in Old Testament. In Hosea, it's easy to do that, but remember its current application! Once you understand its full meaning, it becomes clear, and the light shines through!

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Welcome to The Daily. Partner with us in Project23. Grab your Hosea Scripture Journal. Our text today is Hosea 11:8-9: 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 One of the greatest lies people believe is this: "God is done with me." Maybe because of failure, shame, repeated sin, exhaustion, compromise, or disappointment. At some point, many people quietly assume they have wandered too far, failed too much, or disappointed God beyond repair. But these verses say otherwise. "How can I give you up?" Feel the emotion in that statement. God is speaking to rebellious people who deserve judgment, yet His compassion wells up within Him. This is not a weakness in God. This is the heart of a holy Father whose mercy is deeper than we realize. He even adds: "My compassion grows warm and tender." There was a season in ministry when I felt completely crushed. I was exhausted, discouraged, and slowly losing passion for the very work I thought God had called me to do. But looking back, the issue was not the ministry itself. The issue was me. For years, I think I had done ministry mostly out of education, preparation, skill, ability, and talent—but not fully out of the deeper calling God actually designed for me. I was trying to fulfill purpose through my own strength instead of surrendering to His purpose. It felt so distant from God. And honestly, it nearly broke me. I had become a people-pleaser, pretending to be someone I was not. I was doing work I could do, but not fully living in the calling God was reshaping me for. But here is what I discovered in that painful season: God was not done with me. He was rebirthing something in me. He was remaking me. The crushing was not abandonment. The exhaustion was not rejection. God was lovingly stripping away the false version of myself I had built through performance, pressure, and self-reliance. And maybe some of you need to hear this today, too. Just because you feel exhausted does not mean God has left you. Just because you failed does not mean God has abandoned you. Just because you are struggling does not mean your story is over. Sometimes God allows us to come to the end of ourselves so we finally discover the freedom of surrender. That is what all of Hosea 11 reveals. God is holy enough to confront us and compassionate enough to restore us. So stop believing the lie that God is finished with you. If He were done with you, you would not still feel His conviction. You would not still long for restoration. The Father is still calling. Return to him today, tell God honestly where you feel exhausted, ashamed, disappointed, or afraid that He is done with you—and surrender that lie to Him today. Make today the day you finally stop running from the mercy that has been pursuing you all along. DO THIS: Tell God honestly where you feel exhausted, ashamed, disappointed, or afraid that He is done with you—and surrender that lie to Him today. ASK THIS: Where have I believed God is finished with me? Am I living from performance or from surrender? What false version of myself might God be asking me to lay down? PRAY THIS: Father, thank you for not giving up on me. Help me surrender the false identities, fears, and lies I keep carrying, and teach me to trust your mercy more than my failures. Amen. PLAY THIS: "More Than Able"

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FROM TODAY'S RECAP: - TBR Bookshelf Graphics - Finishers Page - TBR in Spanish Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement of the entire website, author, organization, etc. Their views may not represent our own. SHOW NOTES: - Follow The Bible Recap: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube - Follow Tara-Leigh Cobble: Instagram - Read/listen on the Bible App or Dwell App - Learn more at our Start Page - Become a RECAPtain - Shop the TBR Store PARTNER MINISTRIES: D-Group International Israelux The God Shot TLC Writing & Speaking DISCLAIMER: The Bible Recap, Tara-Leigh Cobble, and affiliates are not a church, pastor, spiritual authority, or counseling service. Listeners and viewers consume this content on a voluntary basis and assume all responsibility for the resulting consequences and impact.

Hosea 8-14