FWD: Morning Manna (Mar. 13); BP: Rom. 9:6-29; RBTTY: Mk. 13:21-37; Dt.

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

---

-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:25:59 -0500
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Mar. 13); BP: Rom. 9:6-29; RBTTY: Mk. 13:21-37; Dt.
 

March 13                                                                                    “When Nobodies Become Somebodies”

 

“And He says also in Hosea, ‘I will call them My people, which were not My people—and her Beloved, which was not Beloved.  And, it shall come to pass that in the place where it was said unto them, You are not My people, there shall they be called the Children of the living God’.”

                                                                                                                                           Romans 9:25-26

     When we realize what we were and still would be apart from His grace, it should humble us and move us to absolute surrender in love.

     A homeless bum.  An orphaned, abandoned street kid.  A drifter hopping boxcars and sleeping under bridges.  A worthless, penniless bag lady, sleeping on a cardboard box on the sidewalk in a throwaway world.

 

     That’s who we are (B.C.) before Jesus comes into our heart (A.D.).

     At least that’s the message found in today’s Manna through the eyes and lives of Hosea, Gomer and Israel.  Called by God to minister to the northern kingdom, also known as Ephraim, from around 755-710 B.C., this one, whose name means “Salvation,” had his work cut out for him.

 

     Although outwardly prosperous and growing, Israel was inwardly corrupt and eaten up with the cancer of spiritual adultery.  She’d turned her back on the God of Israel and prostituted herself with other pagan nations.  Thus, Hosea’s task was a daunting one to be sure as he confronted his countrymen about their lying, murder, insincerity, ingratitude, idolatry and covetousness.  His words were sharp and straightforward.  And, the Lord also called him to “incarnate” his message by doing the unthinkable and marrying a cultic prostitute.

 

     Quite often, the Lord will place us in less-than-desirable circumstances to be His “salt and light” (Mt. 5:13-16).  And, it’s in those times and places that He will call us out of our “comfort zone” to minister in ways we’ve never done before.

 

     But, such is always the essence of the “Pilgrimage of Faith,” isn’t it?

     Assuredly it is.  In marrying a woman like Gomer, Hosea was demonstrating to what lengths God was willing to redeem His chosen People.  Later on, when she’d return to her old way of life and end up on a slave auction block, Hosea would have to go and buy her back—once again showing the Lord’s persistent, patient and pursuing love (3:1-5).

 

     This “amazing grace” was also seen in Hosea’s naming of their first three children.  The first one was named Jezreel (“scattered).  The second one was named Loruhamah (“not pitied”).  And, the third one was named Loammi (“not My people”).  Then, later the latter two names would be changed to Ruhamah and Ammi to signify their repentance and God’s restoration (2:1-23).

 

     Oh, dear Pilgrim, the Lord specializes in “Wrecks Rebuilt” and the “Land of New Beginnings” (II Cor. 5:17).  He can take a “Nobody” and transform him into a “Somebody” by His great love.  May the Holy Spirit use us today to share that Good News with someone else who’s dying to hear it.