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PRAY NOW: TODAY'S PRAYER
Oppressive/sacrificial relationships - Hosea and Gomer
Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for
the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord.
Prayer
How much it must have hurt Hosea
to live in an unfaithful marriage,
to know his love was not returned,
to live in a relationship that hurt,
yet not be able to give it up.
How much it must have hurt Hosea?
You don't ask folk to live in abusive relationships,
but this story is not about Hosea.
It is about you, O God.
You and us.
Sometimes our love cannot transform the other
and we can only walk away and allow it to repair us.
But Hosea's story is the reflection of your story
and you don't walk away.
Here is a love that never gives up,
cannot give up,
for you
are God and not a human being.
How can we speak of your love,
that alone can live through our abuse,
that remains strong despite the partings,
that hankers after us when we are gone,
and waits steadfastly for us?
With such a love we have no words to speak of it,
so may we simply trust we live within it.
Readings
Hosea 1:1-11 Hosea's family/Israel's
family
Hosea 11:1-11 God's
steadfast love
John 15:11-17 The
greatest love
Romans 8:37-9 Nothing
can separate us
Prayer activity
Find a stone or an image of a rock or mountain. Consider how long it has been there,
what world crises and events have passed and yet it stands there. Reflect on God's
steadfast love: its constancy, permanence and eternalness. Enjoy that truth.
Prayer for the Church
Those who guide, administer and make arrangements for the Church's life at national
level
especially the Central Services Committee, Legal Questions
Committee, Investments, and the Nomination Committee.
Blessing
Live the day in love:
speak of it;
walk through it;
trust in it;
and know you live in God.
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