Deciding on Discipline
Hosea 8:1-3, 7-10; 9:7-8; 10:10-12
Deciding on discipline (Hosea 8:1-3, 7-10; 9:7-8; 10:10-12). The idea of discipline conjures up a lot of different memories and opinions. Some negative, some positive, but all had a lasting effect upon us. No matter what God decides concerning discipline, His ultimate goal is redemption. While we may not recognize or enjoy God’s discipline, we must never forget that He wants to turn us from our sin and grow us in our faith.
Check your relationship (Hosea 8:1-3). The primary issue for the Israelites was that they said they knew God, but their ungodly lifestyles gave evidence to the contrary. This may be a current problem in the church. Many in the pew say they know God, but their lives say something different. The question is, “Is your relationship with God real?” or is your faith practice just routine and ritual? Billy Graham said in the 1950s that only 5 percent of church members might be rightly related to God through Jesus. So the question comes again, “Is your relationship with God real?” God announced that an enemy would come against His people despite their worship (which was empty) because of their unfaithfulness.
You reap what you sow (Hosea 8:7-10). God had always desired that His people trust in Him and Him alone for their safety and provisions for life. They had chosen instead to create alliances with other nations, hoping to secure their future. God said that this would result in fewer provisions, less freedom and less population. His discipline would be to let them suffer the temporal consequences of their bad choices. In what or who do we trust for our security ?
Heed a warning when you hear it (Hosea 9:7-8). It seems that Hosea is charging the people with blatant rejection of genuine messages from God. Perhaps they preferred that which tickled their ears and did not disturb them. They not only rejected the message, they also rejected the messenger.
Does this still happen? Sure it does. I recently heard of a lady in a certain church who challenged her pastor on some of his teaching by saying, “You are wrong. I found a teacher who teaches what I believe.” It’s not what I believe, but what God says, that is the standard of truth. We need to take seriously the messages of those who call us to repentance and renewed faithfulness to God.
Realize what time it is (Hosea 10:10-12). Unfaithfulness and idolatry had brought Israel to the point of punishment. God announced that He would discipline His people for their sins until they sought Him and His righteous ways. Once again, we see that God’s discipline is to restore wayward believers to a right relationship with Him and to faithful living. In His love for Israel, God calls for repentance once more. If they will repent, God will come and shower righteousness on them. The message is the same today, for us personally and as a nation.
Davis– Lessons in the ETB series for the winter quarter are being written by Ron Davis, director of missions for Greenville Baptist Association.