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Title: let go
(Sunday service on February 11, 2007, Hosea continuous expository sermon, main text: Hosea 13:1-11)
If you put a frog in boiling water, the frog immediately jumps out. Because you instinctively know that the environment is a threat to your life. However, if you put it in lukewarm water, the frog stays there and is rather satisfied with that environment. And when the temperature of the water rises slowly, very slowly, the frog stays there without realizing that the environment is changing. The temperature of the water gradually rises until it reaches 100 degrees Celsius. The frog will probably be very happy with the condition, but sooner or later it will eventually die. Such is the situation for Christians today. The culture of the world is slowly driving us to death. At first, we are satisfied and indulge in the culture of the world, but in the end the culture of the world will make us suffer. Dying in the world's culture is not our only problem. The Israelites who appear in today's text were also slowly dying from the culture of the world at that time.
Then, what is the image of the people of Israel who are slowly dying in the world culture?
There are people who are blessed by serving God. Sometimes God exalts him and makes him rich. However, I am not quite satisfied with that. That is why they envy others who are taller and richer. They serve the foreign gods they serve. It is a betrayal of faith.
② It is a ‘transfiguration of faith’.
③ It is ‘abandonment of faith’.
See verse 10. The people of Israel asked God to give us a king, just like other nations. You cannot trust God's rule. Even if you become a slave to the king, you need a powerful king and army just like those mighty countries. So they asked God for a king. This is ‘abandonment of faith’. What is Faith? What does it mean to live as a Christian? Its core is the ‘Lordship of Jesus’. Jesus is the master of all my life, and I am his servant. That's why I lay down my time, money, talents, and even my goals and visions in life as Jesus wants me to.
What is the result of a person who compromises with the world's culture, renounces his faith, corrupts that belief, and finally gives up on that belief? See verses 7-8. That's such a scary word. God's judgment is so cruelly portrayed.
If so, what is the reason for compromising with the world's culture and renunciation of faith, corrupting that belief, and finally giving up on that belief? See verse 6. When we forget God because of our pride, we renounce our faith, our faith is corrupted, and eventually we give up on that faith. Let go of the pride of your heart thoroughly.