Ministry Resources

OT Fire Starters – Day 343: Hosea 3-6

READ: Hosea 3-6

THINK: What are you worth? The value of something is usually determined by the price someone is willing to pay for it. In that case, God set the value of your life by what He paid to redeem you, or rescue you, from the eternal consequences of sin and separation from Him. He paid the ultimate price to restore your opportunity for a relationship with Him through the life and death of His Son, Jesus. Regardless of who you are, where you’ve been or what you’ve done, you’re worth everything to God, and He wants to spend time sharing himself with you. So live your life for all it’s worth by surrendering it to Jesus and fulfilling the priceless purpose for which He created you.

RESPOND: How had Gomer been unfaithful to Hosea and to God? (See 3:1 note.) How would Hosea’s actions toward Gomer illustrate God’s attitudes and actions toward Israel (3:1)? (See 3:1 note.) What did Hosea have to do to get Gomer back (3:2), and how does this illustrate what God did for us? (See 3:2 note.) What charges does God bring against the Israelites in 4:1, and what was lacking in their lives? (See 4:1 note.) According to 4:6, what was their primary offense against God, and what destructive effects did this have? (See 4:1 and 4:6 notes.) What kinds of behaviors clouded the people’s judgment and corrupted their spirits (4:11-13)? (See 4:11 note.) How were religious leaders deceiving people, and how can we guard against such deception? (See 4:15 and 5:1 notes.) What does it mean that “Judah’s leaders are like those who move boundary stones” (5:10), and how did this rob God? (See 5:10 note.) What would the people need to do before God would respond to their prayers? (See 5:15 note.) In what way does chapter 6 reveal the people’s insincerity and stubbornness? (See 6:1 and 6:4 notes.) What does it mean that God desires mercy, not sacrifice (6:6)? (See 6:6 note.)

PRAY: Give Jesus thanks for redeeming you and liberating you from a life of slavery to sin at the cost of His own life. Pray that you’ll always act on the knowledge you gain from God’s Word.

ACT: Have you recently repented to God for something but not truly changed your behavior in that aspect of your life? Prove your sincerity by making the appropriate life changes, surrendering fully to God and genuinely serving the best interests of others.

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