The Prodigal's ReturnSample

Choices

Kim Harmon

[I Corinthians 10:13 MSG] No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

The book of Hosea is an interesting story. Hosea marries a woman named Gomer. Gomer was continuously and horribly unfaithful. Time after time, Hosea would go to find her when she left home to wander in sin. Every time he brought her home, forgave her and loved her. Hosea loved Gomer so much that He purchased her from an auction block in order to bring her back home. Two things to note here, God used Hosea’s story as an example to Old Testament people about his tireless love. This is not to say we should lack healthy relationship boundaries. This is simply a story about God’s tireless love.

For some reason, Gomer could not let Hosea’s love be enough. Gomer chose time after time to return to the life she knew outside of Hosea’s love. Whether it was the life she understood, whether it was full of excitement, whether she was driven by crazy pride for being so extravagant in her sin, she repeatedly left Hosea’s love. When tempted by the life outside her home, she chose to walk out the door. She probably looked back less often when leaving home. Before we judge Gomer or Hosea too harshly, aren’t we the same?

God loves us so very much. Every time we walk away, we look back at God less than the time before. We make choices. We choose to walk. What is also amazing about God is He will provide us a way of escape from ourselves, from our bad habits, from our unwise choices. In I Corinthians 10:13, we discover several things. There is no sin that has not been sinned prior to you. Everyone sins. The best part is that despite this, God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted more than you can walk away from ….and…. Will provide you with a way to escape from the temptation.

Knowing this about God means Gomer had a choice to not walk out the door. Knowing this about God means that we, too, have an escape plan. When the pressure of temptation is at its greatest, God provides a way out. The ultimate way out is a relationship with Jesus every moment of every day.

Life has its challenges. We have a choice. Choose God.

God, I choose You. I want You to be the Lord of my life. Please guide my steps. Amen.