Love is a Choice

Then the Lord said to me, “go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to their gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.” ~Hosea 3:1, NKJV

We do not know Gomer’s background, whether she was a prostitute to begin with or she was unfaithful to her husband. Nevertheless, she was a harlot. After Hosea redeemed her and brought her into his house, she chose to return to the street. Many times, Hosea redeemed her and many times, she returned, but Hosea chose to go back again and again under God’s instruction. Gomer had a choice to live a life of respect and peace, and yet, she chose to return to a life of destruction.

The Israelites were no different. They intermarried, they changed their beliefs. They followed other gods. They turned to other gods, made by man. They forgot their Lord who was their bountiful provider (Hosea 2:8). Gomer was an example of the Israelites' unfaithfulness to the Lord, and Hosea was exemplifying the Lord’s love for them.

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, celebrating love for one another. We choose to give gifts of love to those we care about most. Many times we receive and many times we give. It is all done with choice. We choose the ones we care. We choose love. Just as we choose to love others, so God chose to love us, even when we are unfaithful to Him. Prophet after prophets, He declared His love to us, and yet many choose to return to the pagan world.

Finally, He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins. His love is so great, He became man so that we know He truly understand us completely and yet He has authority to change circumstances and protect us. God chose to love us. Christ chose to die out of love for us. What will we choose to do?

Father, thank you for Your love for us. May this day not only be a day of us loving one another, but a day of remembering Your love for us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Happy Valentine’s Day!