Unconditional Love

Tonight, I want to tell you a story of  unconditional love.
One of the most beautiful love stories that I have ever read comes from the book of Hosea. And the story unfolds a little something like this:

God told Hosea to marry a prostitute. So, Hosea did as God commanded him, and he married Gomer (We can't be sure that Gomer was actually a prostitute when she married Hosea, or if that came later on in the marriage. But he knew that one day, she would be unfaithful to him). He loved Gomer with his whole heart. He wasn't rich, and couldn't give her all of the fancy jewelry or beautiful clothes, but he gave her everything that she needed. He took care of her, and loved her. But Gomer wanted more. She wanted not what Hosea could give her, but rather, what he couldn't give her. She wanted the riches. So, she left. Just like that. She was gone. Could you imagine how Hosea must have felt? His wife... The woman he loved with his whole being.... The woman that God told him to marry... Has left him for another man. I don't know about you, but if I were Hosea, I would have questioned God. Why? Why would a faithful God ask him to marry an unfaithful harlot?
Anyways, back to the story, Gomer became enslaved in prostitution. She was no longer her own, but sold as property. Oh, the shame and regret that Gomer must have felt when she was being "auctioned off" before all of these people. She had a wonderful husband and three children that loved her very much, and she had given it all up for this life, that wasn't even her own anymore. But it's too late for all of that.... Right?

Wrong.

So, in walks her prince charming (Hosea, of course). And he buys her freedom back for 15 pieces of silver, and one and a half homers of barley. He makes her his wife once again. He doesn't call her names, or tell her what a failure she is. Instead, he tells her that she will be faithful to him, and he will be faithful to her. Now that, is unconditional love.

So, why would God tell Hosea to marry her if he knew what was going to happen? Because God wanted Hosea to understand how He felt about His children. But let's take this a little bit farther. God wanted somebody to understand how He feels about YOU. He loves us with this unconditional love that makes absolutely no sense at all! We have committed great whoredom, and departed from the Lord (Hosea 1:2). Every time that we turn away from God, or mess up, or become complacent, we give His love away for the love of the world. We are ALL guilty of it. I am Gomer. You are Gomer. But knowing that we would be unfaithful, God saw that one day, we would need someone to save us, even though we don't deserve it. So He paid the greatest price... He gave His Son. There is no greater love.

So I challenge you. The price has been paid and we no longer have to be slaves to this life of whoredom. Will you accept this love? Or will you allow sin to enslave you? The choice is yours.

"I am married unto you." -Jeremiah 3:14
"Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings." -Jeremiah 3:22