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Hosea & Joel Out of Egypt
Week 21 Day 1
Reading: Hosea 11:1 "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son." ESV
Thought: One of the major events of the Old Testament is of course the Exodus of Israel from Egypt led by Moses and Aaron. It was God who sent Moses to Israel, calling them to return to the land promised to them. For Israel they left Egypt escaping a tyrannical king. But in Matthew's gospel we get a different story. When Jesus was about 2 years old, a few months following the visit by the wise men of Babylonia, Joseph was visited by an angel warning him to take his family to Egypt and in doing so escape from the tyrannical king Herod the Great. All this was done in accordance with the prophets, namely this verse. When Herod had died, the family returned, being warned not to stay in Judea but to go further north to Galilee, due to Herod's son taking over as governer. Throughout all of history God has been constantly reminding people of His plan to save, because His promises always come true, and He never fails to complete a work He has set in motion. We can have full assurance that God is in total control because He is sovereign over everything.
Prayer: Lord, thank You that You are in control, my spirit is lifted up because I know that You are sovereign over everything, even the problems of my life. Continue to give me support I pray that Your love would always be over me. Complete Your works in me quickly that Your purposes for me would be fulfilled and used more readily for Your glory.
The Third Day
Day 2
Reading: Hosea 6:1-2 "Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him." ESV
Thought: Again Hosea testifies of the promises of God with regard the resurrection of Jesus, specifically noting that it was on the third day that all would be achieved. Jesus' resurrection did more for us than simply confirming the resurrection of the dead was going to happen, it was the imputting of a new life. "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a
resurrection like his" (Romans 6:4-5). In His crucifixion we died to sin, taking off it bonds and becoming free, but in His resurrection we have gained His Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). So then we must live apart from sin, for "how can we who died to sin still live in it?" (Romans 6:2). If we still live in sin then Christ is not alive in us, therefore we must put off all sin that Christ will be glorified in us.
Prayer: Lord, "as far as the east is from the west, so far do" You remove my transgressions from me, therefore give me strength and wisdom to no longer live joined with sin, but let the life of Christ be fully revealed in me, to the glory of Your name.
The Gift of Prophecy
Day 3
Reading: Joel 2:28 "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions." ESV
Thought: No more are there prophets like the Old Testament, but to all is prophecy available, for all are filled with the Spirit who gives prophecy. Prophecy is one of the greater spiritual gifts, more so than the gift of tongues to which we have become familiar. "Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up" (1 Corinthians 14:5). The gift of prophecy awakens and revives people in the church to take action, providing guidance and courage, the gift of prophecy is thus to the benefit of he who hears the prophecy and follows its revelation. The gift of tongues, without interpretation, can only benefit he who speaks, building him up, therefore pray for interpretation when a person speaks that it should be for the benefit of the whole church. "Earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31). For all the gifts of the Spirit there is nothing more powerful, more refreshing or more encouraging than love, therefore love like Christ loves the church, and through that you will gain something even more significant than all the spiritual gifts.
Prayer: Lord, the gifts You give are amazing, refreshing the spirit. Continue Lord to build us up in Your Spirit, providing as necessary gifts You deem useful. Build up the church through the ministry of those You have given gifts to. But let love be the first above all, that our love would burn for Your people and for the world, let our like be like that of Christ, unchanging.
The Bride of Christ
Day 4
Reading: Hosea 2:19-20 "And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD." ESV
Thought:
The church is the bride of Christ, His glory, to be married to Him in the final days, to be joined with Him for eternity. The bond we form with Christ has all the implications and applications of an earthly marriage. But in heaven we will not be joined to each other but to Christ. In this way Christ is the head of the church as the husband is the head of the family, and He loves the church as husbands are to love their wives. As the bride of Christ we then are to submit ourselves to Christ as wives submit themselves to their husbands (Ephesians 5:24-25). Are we truly living then in Christ, that is the way which He lived and gave life to others? Are we living "in righteousness, in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy" as He has joined us to Him? Is our faith in Him, in the security of His faithfulness? Do we know the Lord?
Prayer: Lord, join Yourself to me and reveal Yourself in me I pray. Give me revelation of You, to understand Your ways that they might become my ways. Lord, Your love is steadfast and wonderous, help me to love as You love, that each day would pour forth grace to Your glory.
The Law of Sacrifice
Day 5
Reading: Hosea 6:6 "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." ESV
Thought: What purpose did the sacrifices of old serve? Why if God did not desire them did He command them to be done? The sacrifices were an indicator of things to come, they covered sin, they did not remove it; for the blood of animals cannot wash away sins, since only a perfect sacrifice; to the standard of God can complete this. What then of those who died before Christ, how were their sins forgiven? The sacrifice of Christ was sufficient for all who believe in Him. So how did they believe in Him whom they had not known? Why do you think that Christ appeared and was prophesied of so many times? In order to grant them the capacity of faith, God continued to remind them of His promise, the very first occasion being immediately after the first sin (Genesis 3:15). Obedience with the commandments of the Law was key, but there was something yet even more important, the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ through faith, hope and love in God and the completion of His Word. This is why the passage reads as it does, because when we have the knowledge of God we have received that revelation which brings life. Ultimately though no man can work to receive this revelation, it must be given by Christ, for it is His to give to those He receives.
Prayer: Lord, You have chosen to reveal Yourself to us, we give You praise! Reveal to me more so now Your purposes for me, to Your glory let them be! Reveal to others also, the wonders of Your great love, let revelation spring forth in this country that Your name would be praised from north to south; from east to west; on the top to every mountain to the bottom of every valley, may Your name be praised all over!
The Day of the Lord
Day 6
Reading: Joel 2:11-13 "The LORD utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can
endure it? "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster." ESV
Thought: For a day is coming when the armies of the Lord will do battle against the devil and his angels, and Satan's forces will suffer defeat as the One with seven stars in His hand and a double-edged sword which comes from His mouth is revealed (Revelation 19:13-21). The image which is constructed within this passage is that Christ, the Word of God, simply speaks and the devil and his army are defeated. This is the picture of the sword that comes from His mouth, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12). The victory is won by Christ, all of it completed and achieved by Christ alone, He defeats the power of the devil by the Word of His power. Let us never be concerned with what the devil can do, Christ has already won, there is nothing the devil can do so long so we strive in faith in Christ, living in His name; for the name of Jesus drives out Satan. Be joined together then with the family of Christ in evangelizing, thanksgiving and worship, never doubting the strength we have received in Christ.
Prayer: Lord, bring us together in Your name, let us be gathered together and may Your Spirit be with us. Lord, the victory is Yours, strengthen us in Your name that we would stand firm, never stirred, never shaken, as You went willingly to the cross.
We are Warriors
Day 7
Reading: Joel 3:10 "Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, "I am a warrior."" ESV
Thought: Who then are the armies of heaven that John speaks of? Have we not been washed white in the blood of Christ? And have we not be given a breastplate of righteousness to stand firm in, a helmet of the knowledge of salvation, boots of readiness and a belt of truth which holds us together? And do we not have a shield of faith through which no scheme of the devil can pass, and a sword which is the very nature of God, living and active? We are warriors, soldiers of righteousness, an army of faith. Therefore let no one consider themselves weak, or frail, but stand strong in faith, that in the day of the Lord we too would bear witness to the victory of the Lamb, the Word of God. Support our brothers and sisters daily, encourage them in their faith, build them up into the love of Christ and train them for righteousness.
Prayer: Lord, establish our steps, craft us into weapons and tools for Your glory, let every one of our words be a sharp sword which pierces to the heart and soul, let it be Your Word O Lord. Gather us together as an army, let no evil stand before us, and let Your glory shine all around.