Most people know John 3:16, For God so loved the world…, which had me thinking about what God must feel when His love is unrequited. I was reminded of the story of Hosea and Gomer. Hosea was told to marry a prostitute to illustrate Israel’s unfaithfulness. Gomer chased after her lovers just as Israel chased after other gods. But He woos her back, speaking tenderly to her (Hosea 2:14).

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols.

Hosea‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ESV

God describes Himself as a jealous God (Exodus 20:5 and 34:14). He feels hurt when His love is not returned.

…They will recognize how hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols…

Ezekiel‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT

When He sent His Son to bring us back to Himself—giving the gift of His love freely to everyone who would accept it—there was a mixed response.

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.

John‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT

Jesus came so we would have peace with God (Romans 5:1), so that nothing could separate us from His love (Romans 8:39).

…God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light…

John‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬ NLT

The world and what it could offer became the lover that fought for prominence, pulling people away from God.

Don’t set the affections of your heart on this world or in loving the things of the world. The love of the Father and the love of the world are incompatible. For all that the world can offer us—the gratification of our flesh, the allurement of the things of the world, and the obsession with status and importance —none of these things come from the Father but from the world.

1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭TPT

Many of us were drawn into the false love the world gave us, but God still loved us. He wooed us back, just like Gomer, speaking tenderly with words of mercy and grace. We love Him because He first loved us (‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬‬‬).

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭ESV

Now, we are the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2 and Ephesians 5:27), and nothing can take us from His hand. (John 10:28).

We have come into an intimate experience with God’s love, and we trust in the love he has for us. God is love! Those who are living in love are living in God, and God lives through them.

1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭TPT

You may still be in the arms of another lover, but God still loves you. One of my favorite authors wrote, “I choose you,” into her characters’ stories involving arranged marriages. They chose love before they fell in love. Can you chose God? He has already chosen you. He already loves you.

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

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