We Need To Repent

“The people of Israel mingle with godless foreigners, making themselves as worthless as a half-baked cake! Worshiping foreign gods has sapped their strength, but they don’t even know it. Their hair is gray, but they don’t realize they’re old and weak. Their arrogance testifies against them, yet they don’t return to the LORD their God or even try to find him. [Hosea 7.8-10]

I don't think I have ever felt the 'weight' of Hosea as much as today.

We need to repent.

We have mingled with foreigners... in other words, we have mingled our faith in God with faith in all kinds of other things... medicine, psychology, economy, self, etc. (the list is almost inexhaustible).

We are just like Hosea's prostitute wife.

Oh, it is nasty realization to be sure. But that does not exempt us from guilt! And, just because we do not acknowledge our guilt does not make us innocent!

Just as gray hair is the undeniable sign of old age, our troubles are the sign of our 'prostitution with other lovers' - our faithlessness to God.

There is only one solution: Repent - turn to God and give up on all other 'lovers.' We must depend only upon God Almighty. We must get rid of 'mingled' devotion. We must get rid of the arrogant pride that declares, "I am ok." We must see the signs for what they are! And we must repent!

Father, there are far too many signs of suffering and troubles around us for us to declare, "We are ok." Forgive us for our arrogance and intentional blindness. Forgive us for having divided allegiance - for mingling faith in You with faith in the solutions of the world!