With Bands of Love

FOCUS TEXT

Hosea 11:1-4

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the more they went from me; they kept sacrificing to the Baals, and offering incense to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.

DAILY BYTE

Today, as we conclude our focus on the ways in which we search for our God and on the ways that God meets us, I would like to share a personal story. My hometown is in the northeastern region of Mexico. It is a border town with the state of Arizona in the United States. Before beginning my time of study at Duke Divinity School, I was involved in a ministry that would reach out to migrant people who were either deported from the United States into Mexico or who were waiting for an opportunity to illegally cross the border into the United States. The focus of this ministry was witnessing of God’s love to migrant people. Once a week, a group of people from Mikedash Methodist Church (my home church in Mexico) would go to the places were migrant people would gather and provide a simple meal accompanied by a simple gospel message. What we would basically communicate to these people was this: “God loves you.” The experiences that I was privileged to enjoy during the years I served in that ministry were a blessing that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

The police often forced the migrant people we would serve to secluded areas in the outskirts of town. This meant that when we served the meals, homeless people would also come up asking for food. This posed a challenge at times because some of the homeless people were addicted to alcohol and other substances and they would tend to be disruptive. We always attempted to treat everyone lovingly and to offer them food and encouragement. There was one man in particular named Jeronimo who was always drunk and quite disruptive. Jeronimo would often come yelling and cursing and demanded to be fed before the others. One morning in particular, Jeronimo came up to the queue where people were waiting to be fed. As usual he was drunk, in fact I think he was more drunk than usual. He had consumed so much alcohol that there was an intoxicating odor coming out of him that was nauseating. He was a bit disruptive but he wanted to be fed. I struggled to convince him to wait quietly with the others, but eventually he stood still waiting for food.

After we handed out the meal, Jeronimo said that he wanted to be prayed for. A friend of mine and I decided to pray with him. We had prayed for him and with him countless of other times without any visible results. This time I sincerely felt a burden in my heart for Jeronimo, I really wanted him to understand that God loved him. Now, please know that I only write the following words for the glory of God and to remind you that God loves us. When we prayed for Jeronimo I placed my hand on his chest and asked God to allow Jeronimo to understand that God loved him. In a matter of seconds we saw a miracle take place before our very eyes. Before we prayed, Jeronimo was so drunk that he could barely stand. Before we prayed he was so drunk that he could hardly focus or make sense when he spoke. God answered our prayer. In a matter of seconds Jeronimo was sober. Jeronimo could stand still, he could focus, and the nauseating odor to crude alcohol left him. I was able to look into his eyes and see that he was no longer under the influence of alcohol. Amazed at God’s loving power we carried on and told Jeronimo how much God love him and that God wanted him to follow Jesus. That day, Jeronimo gave his life to our Lord. We cried together. Our tears were tears of joy and amazement at how much God loves us.

Dear friends, God loves us. Please don’t take that for granted. God loves you and I and God loves those around us. The words of the prophet Hosea remind us today of that love. The God whom we seek loves us dearly. Hosea reminds us of the times when you and I serve the idols that we have made for ourselves and forget about the God who loves us. Hosea reminds us of the fact that in spite of our sins our loving Father takes us up into his arms and heals us. Our Father draws us near to him with cords of human kindness and with bands of love. Let us respond to God’s love accordingly. Let us run towards our Father and embraces him trough the love that he inspires within us. Let us strive to serve only our God.

PRAY AS YOU GO

Father, we praise you for your love. We thank for Jesus Christ through whom you revealed and expressed your perfect love for us.It is through Jesus that we can be in relationship with you. Father, we pray that you bring us closer to you with bands of love and cords of kindness. Help us cast down the idols that we have made for ourselves and move our hearts to serve only you. We worship you Father, for it is you who take us into your arms to heal our wounds. All honor and glory are yours. We offer ourselves to you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.