“In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ it shall be said to them, ‘Children of the living God.'”
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
and bring her into the wilderness,
and speak tenderly to her.
And there I will give her her vineyards
and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope….
“In that day, declares the Lord, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’ For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more… And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord.
“And I will have mercy on No Mercy,
and I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people’;
and he shall say, ‘You are my God.’”
“Come, let us return to the Lord…
Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord…”
“Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 1:10; 2:14-17,19-20,23; 6:1,3; 10:12
Born into insidious sin and all its stain of selfishness, rebellion, and pride, natural man is helpless apart from God’s mercy. When once by the grace of belief we are new creatures, and we who were Not His People become forever His People, the true name change is effected, yet old identities can be slow to die. How patient and steadfast is God’s love in sanctifying His people! (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:8-10; Colossians 3:5-17)
Eden’s imprint says surely God means for my control and pleasure. Grace gifts new recognition of Satan’s lies and exposes and convicts shortcomings on holiness. The newly inaugurated Regent sets about changing the names of all previous and nagging dark identities. Some are immediately transformed, others longer in the letting loose and replacing. Often these come to light in times of testing, which God intends and carefully works for refinement. (Job 23:10)
Can we trace differences His Spirit has made in our thinking, motivations, actions? How measures consistent growth in areas of character and behavior? If we can’t see effects of His reign, what have we been withholding? Where have we neglected to go after and press on to know our God? (Hosea 4:6; 10:12; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 John 3:2-3)
What fruit of the Spirit is woefully lacking in the rub and wreck of our days? There is not one the Lord withholds or dismisses as optional. Do we make excuses for falling short? Are we named Merciless, or Stubborn, or Unkind that begs for the new name of Merciful, Submissive, or Loving? Would we invite God to make unwise wise, impatient patient, brusque gentle, weak strong? (Galatians 5:22-23)
“To this end we pray, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Lord, have Your way with every part of me so I accurately and honorably bear Your holy, glorious name.
As the rain and snow 