Love story

 



I told my seminary students that today we would be reading the greatest love story ever.


We turned to Hosea and read of the good man he was and that he married Gomer and had a child.


But then she was unfaithful and had two children that he hadn't fathered.  


She had traded her body for worldly goods.


She eventually ends up in prison.  


I asked them what they would have done in that situation.


Divorce.  Fight back.  Ignore her and leave her in prison. Maybe it would depend on the situation. 


Then we read of Hosea paying her fines and for her freedom and adopting her children.  He loves her deeply.


They decided that was nice,  but didn't feel realistic.


Then I shared that it was a parable.


That Christ is the husband and we are the wife.  


And they understood.  


We break our covenants, we get ourselves imprisoned when we focus on the wrong things. We covet, we let Him down, we mess up.  


And still our Savior steps in.  He paid the debt, and nothing can change that love He has for us.  


It is never too late.  


Because we are the children of God.  


His work and his glory.


Of infinite worth.


And He gave his only begotten son for you and for me, knowing we wouldn't get it all right. 


And asking only  that we obey his commandments in return. 


It truly is the greatest love story of all. 


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