Everyday Truth with Kurt Skelly

Hosea 10:9-15

The law of sowing and reaping is found throughout the Word of God. Perhaps the most difficult part of the process is understanding that present, righteous decisions have enormous value that cannot be seen until other seasons in our lives. The people of Israel were just beginning to see the consequences (reaping) of their choices. In this context, Hosea pleads with them to cultivate the field of their hearts and plant better seeds. 

Hosea 10:1-8

What you do with the blessings God has given you will reveal a lot about your character. Do you respond in humble gratitude? Do the blessings fuel future obedience? Or do you simply consume the blessings for your own enjoyment and benefits, giving only a passing nod to God? Your heart is often best revealed during days of economic prosperity.

Nehemiah 8

from the series "When God Interrupts Your Life"

Hosea 9:14-17

So comprehensive would the judgment of God be upon Israel that she would lose her very status as a nation. She would lose God’s favor, God’s provided blessings, and even (in many cases) her own children. Yet, hope remained. She would become a wanderer among the nations. The scattering of God’s people would, in and of itself, be a preservative. They would not and could not be utterly destroyed, and one day, God would regather them from the corners of the world. Today, we are witnesses to some of that regathering!

Hosea 9:10-13

In today's episode, we learn how God viewed His past relationship with His people. They were a pleasant and joyful refreshment to Him, and His memories of them were fond. But they unwisely left God and brought horrible consequences upon themselves. Now, they were doing the exact same thing!

Hosea 9:5-9

One of the jobs of a spiritual leader is to be a watchman. Because of his own walk with God and knowledge of God’s Word, he has a vantage point that others do not have. He can see things on the horizon that others cannot see. With diligence and boldness, he must be willing to warn those around him about the impending danger.

Hosea 9:1-4

We all love to experience economic blessings—the pay raise at work, the strong stock market, the fertile garden, etc. During Hosea’s day, Israel was experiencing all kinds of great economic blessings. So then why would God tell the people not to rejoice in them and for them? Had they not come from God? Isn’t joy appropriate in those situations? 

Hosea 8:9-14

Deer hunters understand that a buck will make risky and dangerous choices when he is on the prowl for a doe. The “rut” season is the best time to hunt because the otherwise cautious deer will put himself in a vulnerable place. God likened the nation of Israel to a dumb donkey who ventured alone into a very dangerous place!

Nehemiah 7

from the series "When God Interrupts Your Life"

Hosea 8:6-8

Small bad decisions will create a tornado of consequence eventually. Israel learned this the hard way. They sowed the wind; i.e., they made seemingly insignificant evil choices over a long period of time. But those choices—all put together—created a whirlwind of hurt and despair.