I’m thinking this morning about restoration. In one of my course textbooks it says, “Christians must represent God’s design of authentic kinship — the kind that mends broken lives and nurtures faith communities for all people.“ In God’s Word, Hosea provides an awesome story of restoration.
In our faith communities, there are many who stray from the narrow path. Scripture is replete with stories of prodigals, many who are restored through the loving actions of their Christian siblings — through authentic kinship. My favorite example of restoration is the story of Hosea and his wife, Gomer. Gomer was a “strayer.” Some husbands and wives stray; many Christian kids leave the faith. God’s own first children, Adam and Eve, made poor choices. Many saints have veered when with faced with times of difficulty in their lives, and many have come back to the narrow path and the community of faith because of the prayers, love, and admonition of Christian brothers and sisters.
My heart is aching today for a Christin friend who is suffering this very day from the consequences of poor choices. I am praying for my friend. But I am also wondering if there is more I should do? What is my responsibility to those who make poor choices? These verses from Hosea say it well:
The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes. ” (Hosea 3:1)
Several lessons stand out in this verse. These lessons include going to the one who has strayed and demonstrating love to that person even though they have really blown it.
We need to be loving. God said to Hosea, Go show love to your wife again. How clear can He be? We need to go to the prodigal and we need to forgive – over and over (as God did with the Israelites). Other passages, including one in Matthew 18, clearly express that we are to keep on forgiving those who stray.
As I meditate on this passage, it stands out to me that God said, GO to Hosea. This means Hosea had to go to his wife to show love to her. He was not directed to wait till she came back and then try to love her. No, God said GO show love to your wife again.
Wow, just think, Hosea may have had to go to the other man’s house to show love to his wife – by pulling her out of there! What are the implications here for you and me? What is our responsibility toward a brother or sister who is a “strayer”? Physical proximity is important. So is action. We need to go to our brothers and sisters who have strayed from the Lord.
