Thursday, October 6, 2016

Devotion - Thursday, October 5

Our Tuesday Bible Study group is looking at the twelve books often called "The Minor Prophets."  My cycle of daily readings also has me in this same section of the Bible.  Today I read from Hosea.

Chapter 4, verse 2 stuck with me this morning.  Of Israel, God says, "There is no faithfulness or kindness, and no knowledge of God in the land."

Earlier this week I listened to a presentation in which "Generosity" was lifted up as a defining trait of a life of faith.  The question being asked was whether it was possible to claim knowledge of God and not be generous.

Too often we align faithfulness and knowledge of God with cognitive actions.  We ask, "Do you believe in God," when our question ought to be "Have you taken on the traits of God."  Are we "kind"?  Do we live generous lives?

Generosity is expressed in many ways - money is only one of them.  How generous are you with your time?  With your emotions?  

Like so many of the other Minor Prophets, Hosea explores the gap between what is said and what is done.  Often, in these twelve books, it is the living out of God's Word which is lacking among the people.

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