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“So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.“ — Hosea 12:6 ESV There was a time when you were close to the Lord. Just like Jacob at the Jabbok River, you strove with God and you prevailed. You met with Him and He spoke to you. You even wept before Him and sought His favor (Hosea 12:3-5). God did not seem distant or far away. Rather, He seemed close by and ready to help. He was so real to you that you couldn't imagine offending Him by disobeying His commandments. And you were ready for His instruction and you waited for His counsel. Things, however, changed. Reality happened. The trials and troubles of life did more to alienate you from God than draw you close to Him. The striving and wrestling with God ended. You were too busy to stop and listen to Him. There were no more tears before Him. God receded to the background of your conscious life and you started to go wobbly on some of His commandments. Waiting for the instruction and counsel of God wasn't the first thing on your mind either. If all this describes you, and at times it describes every Christian to one degree or another, then the message of Hosea for you today is that it's time to return. It's time to return to the way it was. You'll need the help of the Lord to do it, but it's time to do it. Return now, “before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was“ (Ecclesiastes 12:6). Return, that is, before there is no time left to return. If you decide to return, then things will need to change. You shouldn't play fast and loose with the commandments of the Lord anymore. Once again you should love the Lord with all your heart and you should love your neighbor as yourself. Hosea specifically says to “hold fast to love and justice.“ That is, treat your neighbor like you would want to be treated. If you return, he also says to “wait continually for your God.“ Don't just follow the dictates of your sinful self. Instead, wait for the instruction and counsel of the Lord. Return! @
