Family Snapshots

“But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception” Hosea 12:13.

It is no secret that one of my children went through a really dark time when she was a teenager.  She wrestled internally with issues of the heart, leaving her vulnerable and preyed upon by Satan.  Satan didn’t miss this opportunity to taunt me with lies such as my failure as a parent.  He certainly strutted around in victory as I laid upon my bed in despair and heartbroken.  I remember that he was so triumphant in painting a picture of death for my sweet one.  He stoked the embers of my emotions and encouraged me to respond in abandonment ...resentment...anger.  One day when I couldn’t stand the feelings any longer I decided to put a picture of her on my refrigerator of when she was 5 years old.  Any time my heart felt hardened and I wanted to turn away I would see her tiny face smiling back at me, and I remembered a sweeter time...a time before she forgot who she really was...a time when she clearly knew she was our beloved daughter.  My compassion would once again be stirred....

We have a Father who has all of our pictures on His heavenly refrigerator.  Our sins arouse His anger... our waywardness and unfaithfulness break His heart.  He vows to pour out His wrath upon us when we walk in the earthly flesh instead of our spiritual destinies.  Then He sees us for who we are... the little ones He chose with whom to share His family.  ‘How can I give up on you...How can I hand you over...My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused, I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate...For I am God, and not man – the Holy One among you...When he roars, his children will come trembling’ Hosea 11:8-11.

Because of His great love we are welcome home.  In our most wicked state He remembers first and foremost that we are His.  He doesn’t forget that we are not defined by our sins, but sealed by His love.  We are called to extend the same love to those who have forsaken us...those who have wounded us.  We are never justified in our unforgiveness, and are called to receive everyone back in love.  It is not our job to determine who belongs and who doesn't - that's God's job. “The LORD said to me, ‘Go, show your love...again, though she is loved by another...Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to others’ Hosea 3:1a.

When we have been hurt and forsaken by others maybe, just maybe we should try to picture them as one of God’s children who has gone astray like a little lamb.  We should see them as one who God is pursuing to bring back into the fold.  And then perhaps our compassion will be stirred and we can respond as the Lord did in Hosea to the Israelites.

‘I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love, I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them’ Hosea 11:4.