Listen:
“But as for you, return to your God; hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.” (Hosea 12:6)
Reflect:
“Your ‘yes’ to God requires your ‘no’ to injustice…” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Do justly, love mercy and walk with God in humbleness. This is a set of life goals for every believer!
But let’s look at the second verse in Hosea: first, I notice that we need to return to God. Maybe you have been on vacation and have become lax in your times alone with God, I often have harder times on holiday or at the weekend than in my weekday schedule to spend time with Jesus. But turning also means repentance. Have I been unkind, have I followed the Spirit’s nudge to talk to someone, even to a stranger? Have I remained true to Jesus? These questions should be repeated often, just as we pray “forgive us our sins as we forgive…”
And before we look at the middle part, we need to wait continually for God. Maybe we have forgotten to wait for God and forge ahead. One of the things I am learning is to wait for that nudge, that whisper, the wind of the Spirit to guide and uphold me. Yet, I need to be READY for moving, too, so this is hard for me.
Finally, we need to hold fast (like, hold on for dear life!) to love and justice. These are often called the two sides of one coin in God: God is love, but God hates sin, so He is just. Sometimes I wish God would come and “do his thing”- and let justice roll down. But it is not yet time and God wants everyone to have the chance to know him (2 Peter 3:9-13).
Prayer of Response:
Dear Jesus, let me wait for you and hold fast to love and justice – and then move when the Spirit nudges me. All for your glory! AMEN.
Questions to Ponder:
- How have I been unkind, how have I followed the Spirit’s nudge to talk to someone, even to a stranger?
- How have I remained true to Jesus?
- How have I been patient in my waiting AND moved with the Spirit lately?
—Submitted by: Patty Jehle
Patty Jehle, MA, is a Swiss citizen, born in the USA, and has been living in Switzerland for 31 years. She is married to Patrik and has three adult children and one son-in-law. She’s currently a university lecturer, a certified spiritual director, and a certified business coach and supervisor, – and on the board of her coaching organization, EASC. She attended the very first LSM and helped out with LSM-Zürich.(www.jehle-coaching.com )
Feature photo taken by Patty Jehle