The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Hosea 14:9,
"Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them."
This closing verse of the prophetic writing of Hosea seems to me to be such a fitting observation. The wise, the discerning, will realize and understand the ways of the Lord and walk in them, but the rebellious trip over the things of the Lord. How true these words were when originally given to the nation of Israel and how true they are right here in our own culture today. No more simple and straightforward account can be provided for the cultural divide we witness in our nation today.
I am reminded of what John had to say about this in his first letter. "Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him." 1 John 2:10-11.
People who are rebellious against God think they have the answers. Dismissing the gospel, they are wise in there own eyes. Often they have rejected the things of God for what they consider to be a loftier outlook, a better way. Little do they realize they are simply stumbling around in darkness and one day will pay the price for rejecting the things of God.
What I love about God is that he has shared his things with those who sincerely seek him. He allows us wisdom that comes from him, he provides discernment for those who desire his ways. Paul speaks of this, "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:12-14.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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