Friday, August 1, 2008

Teaching Notes

Have you stood by the shore of the lake and thought about the wonder it represents. When I see the sand I think, each grain of sand was created by God. If God would take such care and create each grain of sand, how much more does he care about the needs of his children? Yet, we sometimes take his gracious gifts for granted. Lord help us to be grateful (picture by James S. Williams).


Repentance
Hosea 13:4-6 (The Message)



"I'm still your God, the God who saved you out of Egypt. I'm the only real God you've ever known. I'm the one and only God who delivers. I took care of you during the wilderness hard times, those years when you had nothing. I took care of you, took care of all your needs, gave you everything you needed. You were spoiled. You thought you didn't need me. You forgot me.


Notes: We have been studying from Hosea the 14th chapter but today's scripture is from the 13th chapter. We went backwards to understand why God was calling the people to repent. Here in this scripture he is reminding them of how he cared for them and what he had done for them, yet they still were rebellious to him.


Question: What does Hosea tell us that God did for the people?


Answer: He reminds them of how he delivered them from Egypt. When they were in slavery God sent Moses to led the people out. He reminds them how he took care of them when they were in the wilderness. When they had nothing, God gave them manna to eat and the word of God says their shoes never wore out for 40 years. He reminds them that God gave them everything, he took care of their needs. When enemies came against them, he fought them. When they needed him he was always there for his people. What then happened is they forgot about God and thought they could do things on their own, they believed they no longer needed him. This is why the call came to the people to repent. Whenever you want to turn your back on God and all that he has done for you, you are becoming rebellious. Even if you think for a moment that you have done something on your own, be careful! If God did not wake you up this morning you could not do anything. He gives you movement of your body, your ability to think and breath. You cannot do anything without the mercies of God.


Prayer: Lord, today, help me to remember your great mercies unto me. Help me to be grateful for your blessings in my life and help me to continue to humble myself before you. Help me to do your will. Help me this weekend when I go to church. Help me to go with an attitude of gratefulness for your love for me.

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