When God’s heart is turned over
How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, all My compassions are kindled. - HOSEA 11:8
My heart goes out to my kids. With three sons, Jo Beth and I know what is like to be concerned intensely for your children. There is grief when they don’t make the team, celebration over every score, every good grade. You feel their pain, wounds, rejections and victories. Now those heart-stirrings are extended outward, to our grandchildren. It goes on and on, part of the heart and its love and relationships.
The reason we’re bound up in the lives of our kids is because we are made in the image of God. Through Hosea, God tells His rebellious covenant children that though they deserve destruction like that falling on villages in the region of Sodom and Gomorrah, His heart “is turned over” with compassion for them.
If you’re God’s child, His heart churns over your disobedience, and yet burns with compassion for you. Let this knowledge motivate you, as it does me, to not want to grieve the heart of our loving Father. His heart goes out to you!
TODAY’S FOCUS
A covenant is an agreement between two partners. God promises to save you if you trust Him. Renew your side of the covenant with God by affirming your faith in Christ as Savior and Lord of your life.