October - 2017

"I will heal their waywardness and love them freely" (Hosea 14:4).

The sixties of last century was the beginning of the era of 'free love' with the implied notion that love can be had with no strings attached; without cost. Today's text indicates something different. Here free love takes upon itself the poor behavior of its object. Free love flows, but the freedom of it is experienced by the loved one. Free love is about bearing the weight of all that is unloving in the world--in order to bring healing.

" . . . And you experts in the law, woe to you because you load people down with burdens they c

Persons who devote their lives to studying Scripture and teaching others about God are in a position to make life better--or worse--for those exposed to their ministry. The religious professionals addressed here by Jesus were worse than useless--they were positively dangerous. They led people to think of God as a threat; someone hard to please and easy to offend. They made the devoted life a wearied and discouraging odyssey. How are people affected by my devotion?

"Ephraim boasts, 'I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not f

Wealth deceives its possessor into thinking he has no need to obey rules that others must live by; that he is above the law; that he can get away with injustice. Few are able to be rich--and just.

"But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him he took pity on h

He who pitied the wounded and disabled traveler totally contrasts with others passing on the same road. He drew near to the victim with a view to helping him, while others avoided contact with a view to not helping him. We know instinctively that the Samaritan, a member of a despised group, is a better person than the others. Love speaks its own language. It is intelligible and winsome despite prejudices.

" . . . And Judah is unruly against God, even against the faithful Holy One" (Hosea 11:12)

An air of astonished incredulity hangs over this prophetic exclamation. Evil is a mysterious absurdity. For human life to defy its maker is a futile undertaking. Furthermore, evil is extreme ingratitude because it opposes him who is our friend; whose devotion to our welfare is complete and never-ending.

"But he wanted to justify himself so he asked Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 1

The person who asked this question already knew what he ought to do; he was one of Israel's religious leaders, and therefore an ethical expert. His supplementary question only sought to convolute what was really quite straight forward. A person who lives in the grace of God will not seek to shield himself from its duties by asking: Who is the person I am supposed to love?

"I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor devastate Ephraim again. For I am God and not man--t

It is common for men and women to 'carry out' their fierce anger; to give way to furious revenge. The result: the earth is filled with violence. We are knee deep in blood and misery. Judgment reigns in human affairs. Only in God does mercy triumph over judgment.

" . . .I praise you father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from

You don't have to be a professor of theology to know and enjoy God. Many an expert in biblical studies, many a priest or pastor is a stranger to the beauty of the deity. The privilege of intimacy with the divine is open rather to childlike trust so that no one is ineligible. God is for everyone.

" . . .I praise you father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from

You don't have to be a professor of theology to know and enjoy God. Many an expert in biblical studies, many a priest or pastor is a stranger to the beauty of the deity. The privilege of intimacy with the divine is open rather to childlike trust so that no one is ineligible. God is for everyone.

"When Israel was a child, then I loved him . . . . It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking

Long before any of us know or begin to appreciate God, he is compassionate father, our solicitous benefactor, diligent and persevering patron. He is all of these things, and more despite our ignorance of him or even our disregard for him. Like sun, rain and nutrient rich soil, the love of God is the pre-existing biosphere which makes love possible for us. The universe is wired to produce love in human life.

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"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously wi

“But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of the cov

" . . .So we too have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ

"Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many gr

"Jesus replied, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified'"

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in

" . . . He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ f

"Simon Peter asked him, 'Lord, where are you going?' Jesus replied, 'Where I am goi

"Though you have not seen him you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you

"It was revealed to them that were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the thing

"If you really knew me, you would know my father as well" (John 14:7).

"Like newborn babies crave pure spiritual milk so that you may grow up in your salvation, now t

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Desmond Ford

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