Hosea 6:1-2

Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.
Hosea 6:1-2

On the GPS in my car, if I stray from the “calculated route,” I am often sternly informed to make a U-turn at the next possible opportunity. If I continue in this direction, I’ll be heading the wrong way. Repentance is like that. In sin, we are heading for disaster away from the will and protection of the Lord. The Holy Spirit’s GPS tells us to make a U-turn NOW! We need to turn away from the lure of sin and face the mercy and grace of God.

In the days of Hosea, Israel had not only strayed from the Lord but turned their backs to Him and went the ways of idolatry. In the verses above, Hosea is calling the people to return to the Lord even though He is judging them. This so demonstrates the character of God. He cannot tolerate sin and must judge it, but He is always open to repentance, and if we’ll turn from our waywardness, He will heal and bind up our wounds. He even promises in a short time to revive and raise us up so that we are restored in our relationship with Him and can live confidently in His sight.

Do you need to make a U-turn in your walk with God? Know that He will judge you on your way out, but He’ll heal and restore you on your way back in.

Thankful for mercy and restoration,
Pastor Gerard Deleeuw