Confess & Return

Hosea 14:1-9, 1 John 1:9, Matthew 11:28-30

The last chapter of Hosea ends with a beautiful call from God for Israel's repentance. Often when we think of the word “repent '' what we often think of is the person on the side of the road holding a sign yelling at people that they are going to hell. We hear the word repent and we can often think it is an old fashioned and aggressive word. However repentance is a hopeful and glorious word. In all the Bible and specifically here in Hosea we can see repentance as an invitation to return to relationship, intimacy and life in God. Repentance isn’t about shame and guilt but repentance is about turning and changing the direction of your life towards God. In verse 1 of this chapter we see that in the midst of pitch blackness of Israel's sin the final word is not final judgement but a call to return to God. Condemnation does not have to be the final word if Israel is willing to accept God's invitation for them to return to Him. 

We see this throughout all Scripture. God convicting and exposing the sin of His people but constantly bidding them to come to Him. In Hosea 14:1 God’s plea is to return. God’s plea is the same in Isaiah 1:19 where He says “Come now, let us reason together”. We see this in Jesus when He says “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). The invitation from God is to come, to return. No matter the state you find yourself in. Whether for the first time ever or for the hundredth time. What this reveals about God is that He takes our sin very seriously, but if we would turn He will receive us with a desire to heal you and love you (Hosea 14:4). 

This chapter reveals a plea of return but where does our responsibility lie? Our responsibility is to confess, acknowledge our sin as we return. Our responsibility as we return is to “Take with you words and return to the Lord” (Hosea 14:2). Matthew Henry in his commentary says that the two things this passage tells us to ask God as we return is “to be acquitted of guilt and to be accepted as righteous in God’s sight”. What sin do you need to confess with your words to the Lord? Consider even confessing to a brother or sister in Christ where you have back sliding and veering in your faith. Believe you can have peace knowing that God will receive you and forgive you when you confess your sin because Jesus paid for them. That's a promise (1 John 1:9). He won’t only forgive you but He will heal you and love you. Where does healing from sin feel impossible? Confess that to God and others and believe that He promises to do it.