Happy Sabbath friends! Have you ever wondered why you care so much about others, and it feels as if the same care is not reciprocated? Or have you ever been in a situation where you loved someone with your whole heart, just for them to take advantage? If you can agree with any of these questions just asked, please know, you are not alone. I have been hurt a lot by other people in my lifetime, and one of the biggest qualities about myself that I cannot stand at times, is my heart and how much it cares about other people. I feel so much for others in my life, that it physically pains me if they are not happy. Having that much of a feeling in someone who doesn’t reciprocate the same back, can be quite exhausting. I am here to tell you today that caring too much is not a bad thing. In God’s eyes, it is a blessing that the world needs more of.

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
Matthew 5:44 NIV

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV

This past week, I studied the book of Hosea, and my studies of Hosea are what inspired this message that God placed upon my heart. The book of Hosea, especially the chapter we will be delving into, really display the unconditional love that God displays on us, and the love that we, as children of God, should show to those around us. I’ve noticed especially in my experiences, that whenever the world hurts us, the devil likes to put in our mind, especially mine, that it would be easier not to care. That is the complete opposite of what our Heavenly Father wants us to do. He states time and time again to be kind, compassionate, loving, etc. to every person we meet.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Colossians 3:12 NIV

Let us delve into the story of Hosea and his wife, and let us reflect on how this story can relate to the care and compassion we should exude to the people in our lives.

“The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.” So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same way toward you.” For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or household gods. Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days.”
Hosea 3:1-5 NIV

Wow! Even though Hosea’s wife was cheating on him, the Lord still instructed Hosea to love her. The most powerful statement that stood out to me in this scripture was “Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes…”. Let us ponder this for a second…are we not like the Israelites? Think about it. We, as humans of the flesh, have not had the most perfect of lives. We may have stumbled in our Christian walk. We may have strayed away from the narrow way, and became like the lost sheep. Whatever the case may be, we need to humble ourselves and realize that we are no better than the Israelites, yet God still loves us. God doesn’t give up on us, just as He did not stop loving the Israelites when they stumbled, turned away, became lost sheep, etc. Let us think about this even further, and relate it back to the topic of this message that God placed on my heart for us today…think of all the people who have ever hurt you, betrayed you, etc. Think of the people that led you to the mindset that it would be easier not to care at all. Now relate these people to the Israelites. Sometimes our human nature when we are hurt by the actions of someone else, is to stop caring, to turn our backs from the situation, to be filled with hatred, etc. Yet, God did not do that with the Israelites. God could have easily been like “why do I care so much about these Israelites? All they do is go back to their other gods instead of me when I have shown up for them time and time again. Why do I care so much?”, instead, He showed them compassion, love, and patience. God never left nor hated the Israelites, no matter how many times they stumbled, turned away, etc. God stayed true to Himself, and did not change Himself because of the actions of others. He continued to show compassion. He continued to show love. He continued to show grace. Shouldn’t we do the same? Hosea’s wife was betraying him, yet God reminded Hosea to exude the same character as our Heavenly Father and show continuous love to his wife despite the hurt she has caused him.

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV

Another aspect of this story in the book of Hosea that stood out to me was Hosea communicating boundaries with his wife. God not only wants us to forgive those who hurt us, and continue to show love to them, but He also promotes that boundaries are an important aspect in the forgiveness process as it is displayed in this story of Hosea and his wife. “So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same way toward you.””. I love this story in the book of Hosea because it shows a healthy and Christ-like way in forgiving someone close to you who may have hurt you, or betrayed you in some way, while still displaying the love of Christ and placing healthy boundaries in the relationship you may share with this person. God not only instructs us to care about others around us, but also to protect our hearts, and one way to do so is by placing healthy boundaries with the people in our lives.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Proverbs 4:23 NIV

I truly believed God placed this story of Hosea and his wife upon my heart this week as a reminder that even if the world hurts you, or doesn’t reciprocate the same love back to you, that you should not change yourself. We should always strive to uphold the same character that God exudes to us each and every day. We are going to meet numerous people in this world who might not like us, who might hurt us, who might not reciprocate the same love we pour out to them, etc., but this story in Hosea is a reminder of the unconditional love and compassion that God exudes onto us. If we are striving, as children of God, to uphold a character like our Heavenly Father’s, then we should apply this story in Hosea, along with the unconditional love and compassion that Christ upholds, to our own lives. Just as Christ showed unconditional love and compassion to those who turned their backs on Him countless of times…we should show that same love and compassion to those who hurt us, betray us, turn our backs on us, etc. as that is exactly what our Heavenly Father would have done.

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
1 Peter 2:21-25 NIV

Amen.