Everyday Truth with Kurt Skelly

Hosea 13:4-8

To be sure, some people go through dark times and choose to blame God. But those that enjoy prosperity are much more likely to forget God than those who go through hard times. The irony is this: God is the bestower of blessings, and He is the one most often neglected when they multiply!

Hosea 13:1-3

These three verses are a powerful reminder of how destructive sinful pride can be. So completely destructive is its toxin, that people rarely recover from its dominating effect upon them.

Nehemiah 8

from the series "When God Interrupts Your Life"

Hosea 12:7-14

Israel was doing well economically and had a thriving economy based upon her business savvy and ability to trade effectively. She even bragged about her ability to do so. She enjoyed all of the trappings of the wealth such business success brought. But God saw it differently. It would be so much better for Israel to return to the time of living in tents and having nothing so that she could rely upon God for protection and provision again!

Hosea 12:1-6

Hosea compares the people to their forefather Jacob. Jacob was a deceiver and a supplanter. He manipulated to get what he wanted, and he had a reputation for scheming. Israel was acting just like their father. But Jacob changed! He prevailed with God, wept, and communicated with God in a new and powerful way. Hosea pleaded for Israel to follow that pattern of return to God.

Hosea 11:1-12

This short chapter reflects the tender heart of God in such a wonderful way! A mere human being would never have put up with the kind of rank unfaithfulness that Israel had exhibited. But God is not a man! He demonstrates that even His judgments on His people have a long-term positive result. He loves them and longs to bless them!

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!