Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
November 19, 2023
Hosea 11:1-4
1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt, I called my son. 2 The more I called them, the further they went from me; they kept sacrificing to the Baals, and they burned incense to idols. 3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up in my arms, but they did not know that I healed them. 4 I led them with bands of human kindness, with cords of love. I treated them like those who lift infants to their cheeks; I bent down to them and fed them.
Good Morning. Embrace the Son’s rays of hope.
God, our Creator, loves us. This last part of verse 4 brings me great comfort. I treated them like those who lift infants to their cheeks; I bent down to them and fed them.
As infants, we cling to those who care and feed us: those who lift us up to comfort us. How do we reach a point where we turn away from the one who is our parent? During our teenage years, we become rebellious and want the freedom to make our own decisions.
One of the toughest jobs of a parent is to allow the rebellious teen to struggle and fail. It is a necessary part of growing up, but we would rather our children not need that tough love lesson. We slide in and out of the rebellious teen mindset as quickly as the sea ebbs and flows. We have a rough time and slink back to God, but then we are successful and claim all the accolades for ourselves. Thanks be to our patient and loving Creator.
God is waiting for us with open arms to return to His embrace and find the comfort and love that begins in, with, and through God.
Creator God, Thank you for loving us. When we become cocky and think we are in charge, you patiently wait for our return. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Thought for the day: God parents me with love every day.
We are loved and blessed! Pastor Liz
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