Thoughts which carry this broken pastor to Jesus, and to the Cross…

“The LORD said, “Name him Lo-Ammi, because you are not my people, and I am not your God.” (Hosea 1:9, NCV)

“I will plant my people in the land, and I will show pity to the one I had called ‘not shown pity.’ I will say, ‘You are my people’ to those I had called ‘not my people.’ And they will say to me, ‘You are our God.’ ”” (Hosea 2:23, NCV)

“I know what you do, how you work hard and never give up. I know you do not put up with the false teachings of evil people. You have tested those who say they are apostles but really are not, and you found they are liars. You have patience and have suffered troubles for my name and have not given up. “But I have this against you: You have left the love you had in the beginning.” (Revelation 2:2–4, NCV)

I often used to wonder that St. Ambrose was so bold as to call himself a servant of Jesus Christ. I supposed we all ought to be terrified at thoughts of this kind, and that none but the apostles might boast of such honor. But the fact is, we must all say to Christ: Thou art my Lord and I am thy servant; for I believe in thee and aspire to be with thee and all the faithful and to possess thy Word and Sacrament.

The first quote from Hosea hit me like a freight train. How I would hate to hear them, how I hate to read them, even about someone else that I’ve never known. They are the saddest and most devastating words in all of scripture.

I need to take them seriously, I need to hear the warning they bring to our people today. I can’t just dismiss them as if they are not relevant to today. For the reading from Revelation tells me that things do not change much.

We still forget God, we still forget our first love. These words aren’t talking to non-Christians, they are talking to us–those who’ve been called Christians and God’s people. Those who loved God, and know more about God than any other – for they can and do discern false teaching – they have suffered–even as they unmask liars in their midst.

Yet for all their knowledge, like Israel and Gomer in Hosea’s time, they lost the intimate relationship with God. And they don’t even notice, a sad comment on its own.

As I was reading my other devotions, I came across the quote from Luther, and I have to wonder about how it affects this. If we think we need to be afraid of Christ, afraid of serving God, In that fear of serving God, there is also the fear of being in HIs presence, being accountable to the plan He has, which may not be a demanding as we hold it to  be. But the fear keeps us at a distance- a distance which allows us to know of God, but limits our ability to know Him, to engage Him, to serve Him as a trusted companion.

That’s the point that makes the difference–the relationship with God–that’s why serving God as His servant-companion and friend. That is the second reading from Hosea, the incredible reconciliation that God promises and makes happen. For the people who were told they were not, are once again the people of God. He restored the relationship – as promised- and then revealed that incredible blessing–that there is hope for restoration, for healing, for life as even more than a servant – but as the friend Jesus would tell us we have become.

His friends.

His family.

The ones the Spirit heals and nourishes through the word that testifies of Jesus and the sacrament which unites us with Him.

This is what changes knowledge of Jesus to knowing Him.

This is what saves us, this is what we are saved too – an intimate, eternal relationship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Luther, M., & Sander, J. (1915). Devotional Readings from Luther’s Works for Every Day of the Year (p. 362). Augustana Book Concern.