August 6

If you’ve ever wondered how far God’s love will go for you, Hosea 1–3 gives a breathtaking answer. God tells the prophet Hosea to marry Gomer—a woman who will be unfaithful—so that their marriage will become a living picture of God’s covenant love with His people. Hosea’s life becomes a story of heartbreak, betrayal… and relentless pursuit.

Gomer leaves. She chases other lovers. But Hosea goes after her—again. He buys her back. He speaks tenderly to her. He renews his covenant with her.

Why?

Because this is what God does for us.

God says, “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely” (Hosea 14:4). His love is not sentimental—it’s sacrificial. It’s not blind—it sees everything and still chooses to stay. Hosea’s story tells us that God’s love doesn’t give up when we wander. It redeems us when we’re at our worst and restores us when we’ve run out of reasons to hope.

In Matthew 16, we see Jesus begin to reveal just how costly that love will be. He tells His disciples that He must suffer, be killed, and rise again. Peter tries to stop Him, but Jesus sharply rebukes him: “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Jesus knew: love would cost Him everything.
But He also says to us: If you want to follow Me, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.

The story of Hosea is God’s love for us. The call of Jesus is our response to that love.

We are Gomer—pursued, redeemed, restored.
We are Peter—invited to confess Christ and carry a cross.

God’s love won’t let go of you. The question is: will you hold on to Him?

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