Today's Daily Bread

TAKE WORDS WITH YOU

Date : Thursday, June 12, 2025
Passage : Hosea 14:1~9
Keyverse : 2  
1
Return, Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall!
2
Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: "Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.
3
Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount warhorses. We will never again say ’Our gods’ to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion."
4
"I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.
5
I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots;
6
his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.
7
People will dwell again in his shade; they will flourish like the grain, they will blossom like the vine - Israel’s fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.
8
Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a flourishing juniper; your fruitfulness comes from me."
9
Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.
Hosea’s final words to Israel were to return to God. Their return would begin with deep repentance and devotion to bear fruit as they confess their faith in God. Hosea instructs them how to pray. He teaches them the words they are supposed to say and tells them to take those words with them. Some may say God knows our hearts, and we do not need to say anything. But we may not know what is in our hearts unless we say those words. Paul also encourages believers to confess their faith with words (Ro 10:9).

The loving God was ready to take them under his wings and let them flourish and blossom (7). Now, what they needed was not worldly wisdom and discerning international tactics but to know the way of the Lord (9). They had to humble themselves before the Lord, pray as instructed before God and be covered by his mercy.

Have you gone away from God? Do you feel weary and lost? Take the words with you. Pray to your loving God, who has been waiting for you. Ask him to forgive your sins and receive you back. His grace is much greater than your inequities.

Prayer: Father, I repent seeking peace and comfort from other places. I come to you. Please forgive my sins and receive me graciously. Guide me to offer you proper worship with the fruit of the spirit.
One Word: Repent and return