Archive for month: January, 2024

Hi GAMErs!

Today we begin our look at 1 Peter, a letter written by the apostle Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, probably around 64 A.D. to Christians scattered everywhere throughout five Roman provinces.  When you read this leter, keep in mind the context within which Peter is writing this letter.  In approximately 64 A.D., Christians in the Roman Empire are going through severe persecution.  Emperor Nero has launched, or is just about to launch, a widespread movement to capture and destroy Christians.  He would become famous for setting Christians on fire as human torches for his dinner parties and feeding them to lions in the coliseum.  With this background of great persecution in mind, read 1 Peter and you will find that it comes alive with so much more meaning and relevance.  Likewise, if you have ever been bullied, ostracized, or excluded by others, may you find encouragement from this letter by Peter.  

1 Peter 1:1-2 (NIV) 
1  Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 
2  who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood…

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Hosea 13:1-16.  Let’s go!
 
Hosea 13:1-16 (NIV)
1  When Ephraim spoke, men trembled; he was exalted in Israel. But he became guilty of Baal worship and died.
2  Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves from their silver, cleverly fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of these people, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calf-idols.”

On verses 1-9:  At one time Israel (also called Ephraim) had a close relationship with God and stood strong with Him — so much so that “when Ephraim spoke men trembled” (v1).  But this close relationship with God did not last.  Eventually Israel fell headlong into idol worship, including offering human sacrifices (v1b-2).  Israel’s love for God was like the morning mist (see also Hosea 6:4), here one day and gone the next, and Hosea prophesies that his people will be like the morning mist too, here now but gone soon (v3).  Having brought His people out of Egypt, God wanted the people to acknowledge Him and worship Him for who He is, their own true God and Saviour (v4), the one who cared for them in the desert (v5), the one who fed them so that they were satisfied (v6a).  But in their satisfaction, the people became proud and forgot about God (v6b).

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Hosea 11:1-12.  Let’s go!
 
Hosea 11:1-12 (NIV)
1  “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
2  But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images.
3  It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them.
4  I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.
5  “Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent?

On verses 1-12:  Earlier in Hosea the dominant picture to describe the relationship between God and Israel was that of husband and wife.  Here the view shifts to describing our relationship with God as that between a child and his father.  These are just different angles by which we can see and appreciate God’s love.  In fact, today’s passage, Hosea 11:1-12, contains one of the most tender descriptions of the fatherly heart of God that you will find in the Bible.