Checotah Church of Christ

At the Church of Christ in Checotah we encourage families to grow close to each other as they grow closer to God.

 

Curtis’ Corner

February 13, 2022

“When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, ‘Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the LORD.’” Hosea 1:2. It was rough being an Old Testament prophet. The first command God had for Hosea was to go marry a prostitute, someone who was certain not to remain faithful to him. He did and she wasn’t. After she ran off Hosea was commanded to accept her back. “Then the LORD said to me, ‘Go again, love a woman who
is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.’ So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley.” 3:1-2. Since Gomer (1:3) had prostituted herself, Hosea actually had to pay to get his wife back, buy her back from those who owned her. This is called redemption. To redeem means to purchase back; to ransom, liberate or rescue from captivity or bondage, by paying an equivalent. Hosea set Gomer free by paying atonement for her. We have a redeemer as well. Jesus paid the atonement for our sins and redeemed us, bought us back from the slavery of sin. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed,
and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” Titus 2:11-14. If Jesus has washed your sins away in the waters of baptism, Titus 3:5, then you are free today from your former life of sin.

Curtis Hartshorn

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