Redeemed & Restored

How much would you pay to have something of yours returned to you? Perhaps you lost your bike or cell phone — what’s it worth to you? Or maybe it’s something of sentimental significance such as a wedding ring or a family heirloom. How much would you pay to get it back? How about a pet? How about a child, or your spouse, or another family member? The material things that we lose we can likely get by without — it is just stuff after all, and those items can be replaced. But something with emotional significance and attachments cannot be replaced. They are unique, one of a kind, special. This is why people will spend extraordinary amounts of time, energy, and resources to make sure these people, or items, are kept safe and secure. We know they’re irreplaceable.

Hosea demonstrates this principal clearly. Even though his wife has cheated on him and left him, he still loves her and finds her, and pays for her release so that they can be together once again.  He does this as a living example of how God acts towards Israel, for just as Hosea’s wife Gomer cheated on him and left him, so too had Israel cheated on God and left Him for others. But God, in His love and mercy, shows grace towards Israel and welcomes them back even though they don’t deserve it. This act by God for Israel is a foreshadowing of how He will through Jesus’ sacrifice buy back all those who trust and put their faith in Jesus. “[We] are not [our] own, for [we] were bought with a price” (1 Cor. 6:20). We don’t deserve forgiveness or grace, nor can we earn it — it is something that God gives us freely. Just as Hosea bought back Gomer and restored their relationship, God buys us back and makes us a part of His family. All we need to do is accept this free gift by believing in Jesus and what He has done.

This Sunday we’re going to look at Hosea 2 and 3, and in response we’re going to celebrate communion (the Lord’s table). If you’ve never taken communion with us before, it is open and available to everyone who has accepted and believed in Jesus as their Saviour, Lord, and King. We will gather at our regular time of 4pm on Sunday. Hope to see you there.

Blessings, Pastor Mike