It wouldn't surprise me to learn that there may be someone in your life that you're presently praying for right now. Someone who is on a journey of attempting to run from the Lord when what they really need to do is repent and return to Jesus. There are certainly people in my life that I'm praying for right now who seem to be on that kind of path.

In Hosea 6, we read the words of the prophet as he prayed for the repentance of Israel during one of their severe seasons of rebellion against the Lord. The words of his prayer and the subsequent response of God are both insightful and encouraging as we lift up our heartfelt concerns for others to the Lord as well.

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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here: https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to biblestudyheadquarters@gmail.com.

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Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

.

The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here: https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to biblestudyheadquarters@gmail.com.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

.

If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here: https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to biblestudyheadquarters@gmail.com.

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Depravity among spiritual leaders was a common issue in Hosea's day. For starters, they had drifted from the clear teaching of the word of God. As a result, the Lord revealed through Hosea that His people were "destroyed for lack of knowledge."

The spiritual leaders weren't teaching God's word. They also weren't modeling it. Instead of feeding the people life-giving spiritual nourishment, they were feeding on the sin of the people and effectively encouraging more of it. The Lord describes these spiritual leaders as greedy and enamored with iniquity. It's a horrible image to picture.

God will hold spiritual leaders accountable for the lives they live and the nature of their influence on the lives of others.

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Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here: https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to biblestudyheadquarters@gmail.com.

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If you find it particularly difficult to extend forgiveness, please understand that the Lord isn’t asking you to do something He wasn’t willing to do first. There is no greater example of forgiveness than the forgiveness we’ve been offered through the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus who had done no wrong bore our sin on the cross so that we could be indwelled with His presence, gifted with His righteousness, and forgiven us of every wrong we’ve ever committed in act, attitude, or nature.

The third chapter of the book of Hosea illustrates the relational and eternal power of forgiveness in a way that can’t help but impact us.

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Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here: https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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I’m grateful that when I observe the hand of God in my life and in the lives of those I love, that He doesn’t quit too soon. Even though I wouldn’t blame Him for wanting to give up on us, that isn’t His pattern. And if you’ve been personally wondering if God has given up on you, I’m confident He hasn’t.

We are given a powerful example of God’s patient, long-suffering nature in the second chapter of the prophetic book of Hosea.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here: https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to biblestudyheadquarters@gmail.com.

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Feeling distant from God? Please take a look with me at what we're told in the book of Hosea about this very concept.

Hosea was a prophet in Israel who served in his role for roughly 60 years. His book was written sometime between 755 B.C. and 725 B.C. during a very spiritually dark season in Israel's history.

During that era, Israel was consumed with idolatry, and the nature of their idolatry was both vulgar and blasphemous. Like many people in our own generation, the people of Israel were highly consumed with the desire to gain the best of what this world can offer. It was a common belief in the paganism of the day that material prosperity and fruitful crops could be obtained by worshipping the false god Baal and participating in vulgar activities with temple prostitutes.

I can only imagine how it must have felt for God to witness this spiritual unfaithfulness among the very people He had rescued, redeemed, and called unto Himself. Sometimes, people picture God as unfeeling and distant, but that's not the image of Him that's painted for us in Scripture. We're told that He rejoices over His people. We're also told that His children can grieve His heart. The book of Hosea reveals the depth of God's emotions toward those He loves.

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Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here: https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

.

To email John Stange directly, please send your message to biblestudyheadquarters@gmail.com.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

.

If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

.

The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here: https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to biblestudyheadquarters@gmail.com.

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One of the most frequently asked questions among Christians is the question about whether or not it's possible for us to lose our eternal salvation. Some Christians believe it's possible while others do not. My personal belief on this subject has drastically changed throughout the course of my life. The beliefs I held on this subject when I was new to the Christian faith are significantly different from the beliefs I hold at present.

Even before explaining what I presently believe or offering the Scriptural basis for these beliefs, I also want to acknowledge that I have several close friends who serve in various ministry roles who hold views that differ from mine. I'm grateful for them, and while I consider this a major doctrinal issue with hefty theological and relational consequences, I still consider these friends true brothers in Christ.

So, what do I believe about this issue? Or better said, what do I believe God's word teaches about the question of whether or not it's possible for a genuine believer in Jesus to lose their salvation? With all sincerity, I do not believe it is possible for someone who has been brought to a saving relationship with Jesus to lose the gift of salvation. Please allow me to explain why I have come to this belief.

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