A Path Forward 前进的道路

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Dexu Xia

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Feb 26, 2025, 9:49:59 PM2/26/25

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Love [your wife] as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods. Hosea 3:1

Today's Scripture Hosea 3

Today's Insights The fourteen chapters of Hosea comprise one of the stranger books of the Bible. Why would God command His prophet Hosea to “marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her” (Hosea 1:2)? The answer comes in the first chapter: “for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord” (v. 2). God intended Hosea’s publicly disastrous marriage to be a vivid depiction to the people of what they were doing to Him by engaging in obscene idolatry. He said of them, “She will chase after her lovers” (2:7). Yet God would bring the people back from exile. Hosea 3 anticipates a day when Israel “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” (v. 5). God will always love them, as Hosea loved his wife.

Today's Devotional What do we do? Scott and Bree agonized over how to relate to friends and family members who’d chosen unbiblical ways of life. As they studied the Scriptures and prayed, a path forward emerged: First, they reinforced their love for their friends and loved ones; second, they expressed what was true and good about them based on God’s good design; and third, they shared how they would lovingly interact with them based on Scriptural wisdom. In time, greater relational trust was built as Scott and Bree extended Christlike love. Hosea likely wondered how to relate to his wife—a woman whose chosen way of life didn’t honor God or him. God directed the prophet to “show your love to your wife again, though she is . . . an adulteress” (Hosea 3:1). The prophet evidently reinforced his love for her while also expressing what was right and true for them and their relationship before God (v. 3). His relationship with her symbolized God’s own challenge with rebellious ancient Israel. Though they’d chosen a wrong course, He provided a path forward, telling them His “love will know no bounds” (14:4 nlt) but to choose His ways for they “are right” (v. 9).

As God provides wisdom and discernment, let’s continue to extend His love and truth to those who’ve chosen unbiblical ways of life. His example provides the path forward.

Reflect & Pray How has God shown love and truth to you? How can you show God’s love and truth to those on unbiblical paths?

Loving God, please help me to reflect Your truth and love to those far from You.

爱[你的妻子]，就像主爱以色列人一样，尽管他们转向了其他神。何西阿书3:1

今日经文何西阿书3

今日心得何西阿书十四章是圣经中最奇特的书之一。为什么上帝会命令他的先知何西阿“娶淫妇，与她生儿育女”（何西阿书1:2）？答案在第一章：“因为这地像一个淫妇一样对耶和华不忠”（第2节）。上帝希望何西阿公开的灾难性的婚姻，生动地向人民描绘，他们从事淫秽的偶像崇拜，对上帝来说，是多么可怕的事情。他谈到他们时说：“她会追逐她所爱的人”（2:7）。然而，上帝会把人民从流放中带回来。何西阿书3预示着有一天以色列“会回来寻求他们的上帝耶和华和他们的国王大卫。末后的日子，他们要战兢而来归向耶和华，得他所赐的福”（第 5 节）。上帝会永远爱他们，就像何西阿爱他的妻子一样。

今日灵修我们该怎么做？斯科特和布里苦苦思索，如何与选择不按照圣经真理的方式生活的朋友和家人相处。当他们读经祷告时，一条前进的道路出现了：首先，他们给与亲朋好友们更多的爱；其次，他们根据上帝的美好设计肯定了亲朋们身上真实和善良的地方；第三，他们分享，如何根据圣经的智慧，与亲朋进行充满爱意的互动。随着时间的推移，随着斯科特和布里持续向亲朋好友表达了基督那样的爱，这增进了他们之间的关系，并建立了更大的信任。

何西阿很可能想知道如何与他的妻子相处，一个选择过不尊重上帝或他人的生活的女人。上帝指示先知“再向你的妻子表明你的爱，虽然她......是个淫妇”（何西阿书 3：1）。先知显然增进了他对她的爱，同时也告诉她，在上帝面前，怎样的夫妻关系是正确和真实的（3节）。他与妻子的关系，象征着上帝面对叛逆的古代以色列人的挑战。虽然以色列人选择了错误的道路，但是上帝仍旧为他们提供前进的道路，以此告诉他们，他的“爱是无止境的”（14:4），但要选择他的道路，因为这“是正路”（9节）。当上帝提供智慧和洞察力时，让我们继续用他的爱和真理，对待那些选择过非圣经方式生活的人。他的榜样，为我们提供了我们前进的道路。

反思和祈祷

上帝如何向你展示爱和真理？你如何向那些走在非圣经真理道路上的人展示上帝的爱和真理？