ESOCS Devotional 14 July
TEXT: HOSEA 1
MEMORY VERSE: “So he married Gomer daughter of Dibliam and she conceived and bore him a son.”Hosea 1:3
It can be painful to read the story of Hosea. Out of obedience to God the prophet marries Gomer, who refuses to change her ways, still Hosea tries to bring her back, to redeem her from the sordid life to which she so stubbornly clings. Ordinarily one would ask why Hosea did not leave his wife.
Leadership is about sacrifices it means giving up personal options in order to guide the people to where they need to go. Hosea made several sacrifices in his leadership. Leaders lose their right to selfishness. They must fall into account the lives of others when making decisions. They must say what the people need to hear, not merely what they want to hear. They must guide the people to where they ought to go not necessarily where they desire to go.
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
This is because Hosea’s life did not belong to him alone. He had given his heart and soul to God. You are not your own 1 Cor. 6:19-20. Hosea realized that God had called him to become a living metaphor of the love of God for His people and he obeyed, regardless of the personal cost.
Hosea illustrates the heartaches (sacrifice, that may come from following the call of God) Matthew 10:37-38, Luke 9:62. Therefore, as leaders, we continue to pray for and minister to those who have strayed from the Lord even when it hurts; knowing that God did the same for us.
CHALLENGES
- Have you come to call back those who left the Holy Order, especially those not attending church at all.
PRAYER POINT: Continue to pray for all those who strayed, no matter the reason.
FURTHER READING: Acts 21:11-34; Hosea 2:1-13
Thank you for reading the ESOCS Devotional today. Please share and follow us on all our platforms to contribute to the spread of the Gospel.
ESOCS Devotional 14 July
