CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS VIEWS IN IUO
ABOUT THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE GOSPEL OF TRUTH.. DAILY MEDITATION
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DAILY ⓂANNA SUNDAY 20TH NOVEMBER, 2022
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DAILY ⓂANNA SUNDAY 20TH NOVEMBER, 2022
It is advisable that you prayerfully and meditatively read the text first
THE FATHER’S LOVE
TEXT: HOSEA 11:1-11
📖 READING
HOSEA 11:1-11
[1]When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
[2]As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
[3]I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.
[4]I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
[5]He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.
[6]And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.
[7]And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.
[8]How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.
[9]I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
[10]They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.
[11]They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.
🔑📖KEY VERSE: “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them” (HOSEA 11:1, 4).
In March 2002, a Norwegian cruise ship’s captain exhibited a rare concern for a 24-year old crew member who fell overboard into the Atlantic Ocean one evening. The ship with over 1,000 passengers aboard was on its way to St. Martin Island in the Caribbean. The crew only discovered, four hours later, that the lady was missing when she did not show up for a late roll call. The captain decided to turn back in search of her body, as against other passengers’ wish. After over four hours of backtracking their path, a passenger amongst those gathered on the deck, caught a glimpse of her and she was still alive. She had treaded the water for 10 hours, without any inclination that the ship would return to look for her.
The captain’s concern for the lady illustrates God’s fatherly love for Israel. He brought them out of Egypt, yet they soon turned away from Him, to idols. Notwithstanding, God would not leave them alone. Sometimes, He disciplined them, drawing them “with cords of a man”, but always never cut His bands of love from them. Yet they would not relent in their tendency to pull away from Him.
Many people are unaware of the extent of God’s care for them. They trifle with His provision of their every day needs and they never lack any real good thing, yet they do not ascribe any of these to Him.
If you know how much God loves you, you will not dare to remain far from Him. All the provisions that you enjoy are His way of seeking to catch your attention, so you can reciprocate His love. Sometimes, He allows you to go through pain and suffering with the hope that this too would draw you back to Him. Even when you give up on yourself, God never gives up on you. To remain in your recalcitrance is to prolong your suffering and pain, but when you return to Him in repentance, you will suddenly discover that His love is ever available to receive and keep you.
✍🏽THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Even when you give up on yourself, God never gives up on you.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 KINGS 18-19
MEDITATION
Reflections on God’s dealings with you🤔
1. Divine reflections
a. God did many things in love for Israel but Israel was either not thoughtful about them, forgot those things or ignored them entirely. We have the following divine reflections.
a. He loved them and delivered them from Egypt, v1.
b. When they were going astray unto destruction, He sent the prophets to call them back, v2.
c. He healed them but they did not know the healing came from God, v3.
d. He broke the yoke of the devil off their lives and gave them food. Possibly they did not know it was God who did it, v4.
Qeustions
a. What are the other good things God did for them in the text?
b. Can you reflect on guidance, good and great things that have happened to you in the past? Do you see God as the one behind those things and that they are not just accidental?
2. Damnable response
a. The response of Israel was a total show of ingratitude.
b. They refused to ascribe God’s goodness to Him, v3.
c. They refused to return to God after God rebuked them through the prophets, vv5,7.
Question
a.What are the other negative ways they responded to God’s goodness?
b. Is your response to God’s goodness a show of gratitude or ingratitude, complaints, bitterness, backsliding, prayerlessness etc?👌
3. Definite repercussions
a. In dealing with God of justice, you cannot eat your cake amd have it.
b. There was mercy mixed with judgement as a result of His love for them. They would not be ruled by the cruel Egyptians any more but by a more humane Assyria, v5.
c. They will be punished but not like Admah and Zeboim that were destroyed with Sodom, v8.
d. The punishment will be such that will force them to come back to God and not perish, vv9-12.
e. There is no response you give to His word that will not attract its reward, either good or bad.
Question
How have you been responding to corrections even though they may be painful?
Prayer points
Lord, I praise you and appreciate your love for me🙏
Open my eyes to always see the good things you are doing for me and give me a grateful heart🙏
Give me the right attitude to divine corrections that may come in different ways🙏
Lord, restore all backslidders in the Church and cause them to respond to your love🙏
HYMN Turn your eyes upon JesusDAILY ⓂANNA
SUNDAY 20TH NOVEMBER, 2022It is advisable that you prayerfully and meditatively read the text first
THE FATHER’S LOVE
TEXT: HOSEA 11:1-11📖 READING
HOSEA 11:1-11[1]When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
[2]As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
[3]I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.
[4]I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
[5]He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.
[6]And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.
[7]And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.
[8]How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.
[9]I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
[10]They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.
[11]They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.
🔑📖KEY VERSE: “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them” (HOSEA 11:1, 4).
In March 2002, a Norwegian cruise ship’s captain exhibited a rare concern for a 24-year old crew member who fell overboard into the Atlantic Ocean one evening. The ship with over 1,000 passengers aboard was on its way to St. Martin Island in the Caribbean. The crew only discovered, four hours later, that the lady was missing when she did not show up for a late roll call. The captain decided to turn back in search of her body, as against other passengers’ wish. After over four hours of backtracking their path, a passenger amongst those gathered on the deck, caught a glimpse of her and she was still alive. She had treaded the water for 10 hours, without any inclination that the ship would return to look for her.
The captain’s concern for the lady illustrates God’s fatherly love for Israel. He brought them out of Egypt, yet they soon turned away from Him, to idols. Notwithstanding, God would not leave them alone. Sometimes, He disciplined them, drawing them “with cords of a man”, but always never cut His bands of love from them. Yet they would not relent in their tendency to pull away from Him.
Many people are unaware of the extent of God’s care for them. They trifle with His provision of their every day needs and they never lack any real good thing, yet they do not ascribe any of these to Him.
If you know how much God loves you, you will not dare to remain far from Him. All the provisions that you enjoy are His way of seeking to catch your attention, so you can reciprocate His love. Sometimes, He allows you to go through pain and suffering with the hope that this too would draw you back to Him. Even when you give up on yourself, God never gives up on you. To remain in your recalcitrance is to prolong your suffering and pain, but when you return to Him in repentance, you will suddenly discover that His love is ever available to receive and keep you.
✍🏽THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Even when you give up on yourself, God never gives up on you.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 KINGS 18-19
MEDITATION
Reflections on God’s dealings with you🤔
1. Divine reflections
a. God did many things in love for Israel but Israel was either not thoughtful about them, forgot those things or ignored them entirely. We have the following divine reflections.
a. He loved them and delivered them from Egypt, v1.
b. When they were going astray unto destruction, He sent the prophets to call them back, v2.
c. He healed them but they did not know the healing came from God, v3.
d. He broke the yoke of the devil off their lives and gave them food. Possibly they did not know it was God who did it, v4.Qeustions
a. What are the other good things God did for them in the text?
b. Can you reflect on guidance, good and great things that have happened to you in the past? Do you see God as the one behind those things and that they are not just accidental?2. Damnable response
a. The response of Israel was a total show of ingratitude.
b. They refused to ascribe God’s goodness to Him, v3.
c. They refused to return to God after God rebuked them through the prophets, vv5,7.Question
a.What are the other negative ways they responded to God’s goodness?
b. Is your response to God’s goodness a show of gratitude or ingratitude, complaints, bitterness, backsliding, prayerlessness etc?👌3. Definite repercussions
a. In dealing with God of justice, you cannot eat your cake amd have it.
b. There was mercy mixed with judgement as a result of His love for them. They would not be ruled by the cruel Egyptians any more but by a more humane Assyria, v5.
c. They will be punished but not like Admah and Zeboim that were destroyed with Sodom, v8.
d. The punishment will be such that will force them to come back to God and not perish, vv9-12.
e. There is no response you give to His word that will not attract its reward, either good or bad.Question
How have you been responding to corrections even though they may be painful?Prayer points
Lord, I praise you and appreciate your love for me🙏
Open my eyes to always see the good things you are doing for me and give me a grateful heart🙏
Give me the right attitude to divine corrections that may come in different ways🙏
Lord, restore all backslidders in the Church and cause them to respond to your love🙏HYMN Turn your eyes upon Jesus
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