Return To The Lord

 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
-Hosea 14:1-2, 9 (King James Version)

Have you ever reached that low point in your life, when you realize that you've sinned and are living apart from God? If so, then these passages are for you.

Verse 1 says, "O Israel, return to the LORD thy God.." For God to call them to return means that they must have left Him. If you've spent time reading about Israel in the Old Testament times, you'll remember that they often times left the Lord God in chase of idols. It seems that when they were under siege or attack from enemies, they would cry out to God for help, but when things were going well, they chased after idols. God is calling them back, look at the rest of verse 1, "For thou has fallen by thine iniquity." Their sin has caused them to fall away from God. God is calling them back.

Verse 2 teaches us how to come back when we've fallen away. "Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, 'Take way all iniquity, and receive us graciously, so we will render the calves of our lips." We are to turn to the Lord. I like that picture. When we fall, when we chase after idols and things that draw us away, we are looking away from God. So, if we are going to return to Him, we first must turn toward the Lord. Pray, and ask God to forgive your sins and receive you. Then give him to fruit of lips that praise His name. That is what is meant by "so we will render the calves of our lips." We must praise His name. By praising God, we are able to keep focused on Him.

Finally, the end of verse 9 says, "for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein." The ways of God are right. Of course they are, they are perfect, and those who are right with God shall walk in them. Jesus tells us in John 14: 23-24 this same thing.

 ²³Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
 ²⁴He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
-John 14:23-24 (KJV)

Of course, if those who are right with God walk in His ways, the opposite end of the spectrum is true as well. "But the transgressors shall fall therein." This means that those who walk after the things of this life, not following God, shall fall and remain separated from Him by their sin. Do you need to make things right with God today? Think About It.