The Lengths God Will Go

                                                                                                                                Hosea

Many of us have been or will be traveling this summer. Inevitably, you will need to make a lunch stop along the way. You’ll look for the blue highway signs that list the restaurants in the area. You'll see one you want and turn off the highway. Now, right before you get to the intersection, there are more signs indicating which way the restaurant is and most importantly how far the restaurant is. To me, the distance to a restaurant is critical. It will determine whether I keep going to the restaurant or keep driving down the highway. My question to you is how far will you venture off the highway for lunch? One mile? Two miles? Three miles? How far will you drive for a McDonalds or Wendy’s? How far will you drive for a Chick-fil-A or McAllister’s Deli?

More importantly and to the point, what length is God willing to go to love his people and for his people to love him in return? In the middle of verse 1, God declares his love for the children of Israel, even though they turn to other gods. How far will he go to love a people who belong to him but don’t love him? How much will he give? How much will he endure? Thankfully, we don’t have to wonder, because God answers that question for us through our passage this Sunday, which is Hosea 3:1-5. In that passage, God will show us the lengths he will go to love us, his people, by pursuing us in our sin, by purchase us out of our sin and by purifying us from our sin. To come prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Hosea 3:1-5, Exodus 20:1-3, John 8:34-36, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:4-5, Hebrews 12:10-11 and 1 Peter 1:18-19.

As we gather to celebrate and give thanks for the redeeming work of Christ Jesus, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “Lord, with Glowing Heart I'd Praise Thee.” the Acclamation of Praise “There is a Redeemer” and the Communion Hymn/Hymn of Response “By Faith.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear, receive and be transformed by God's Word and the means of His grace!

Sermon Information

Text: Hosea 3:1-5

Title: The Lengths God Will Go

1. God Pursues Us In Our Sin. (v. 1)
2. God Purchases Us Out of Our Sin. (v. 2)
3. God Purifies Us From Our Sin. (vv. 3-5)

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