Passage Read: Hosea 12 - Joel 1
Meditation Verse: Hosea 12:6
Thought
God's call to His people is to return to Him, to observe kindness and justice, and to wait for Him continually. It is not hard, but it is difficult. It is not hard to return to God, but to learn His ways and do them takes time and effort that we would rather spend elsewhere. To practice kindness isn't hard, but it means we can't cheat or deceive or take advantage of others, and we have to make people more important than making money. And observing justice isn't hard, except to learn what God calls good and right, and to enforce His standard of righteousness means we hold ourselves accountable as well as others. And to wait for God continually means we need to make Him our chief desire, which isn't hard, except for all the other things we like more than Him. Watching and praying and always keeping Him in mind, longing for His presence, praying for His return, looking for Him. Not just once a week, but daily. Not daily, but all day long. It is that kind of longing that keeps Him uppermost in our hearts and minds so that we are mindful to do as pleases Him at all times rather than what pleases our flesh. So we do good and right, so we treat others always with kindness and justice, rather than continually looking for what benefits me first and only.
Application
This is a simple statement, but to live it out is costly. It costs me time and attention and maybe profit and some pleasures. It's not terrible. It's not death to all I want and wish for, but it is a dramatic shift in what I pursue and think on. God first, people second, material things last. Learning about God first and longing for His return and rule. Being kind and considerate to people second. It doesn't require going out of my way to be thoughtful of others, but in the course of my day considering the needs of those I encounter above the tasks I'm trying to complete, because I'm aware of God and His care for those I meet. Treating all fairly and justly, and seeking justice for those I can help. All in a context of providing for my basic needs, rather than being consumed with gathering all the treasure I possibly can or pursuing every pleasure I can.