Daily Devotions
Inconsistent Love
Reading for September 19th: Hosea 1-7
What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?
What shall I do with you, O Judah?
Your love is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that goes away early.
Hosea 6:4
How consistent is your love for God? Is it like a deep river that flows faithfully every day, or is it a shallow creek that quickly dries up when there is a shortage of rain? Do you find your love to come and go in spurts? Is it sometimes powerful and full of emotion, and then at other times weak and lifeless?
In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus predicted that some of us would love inconsistently (Lk 8:4-15). Sometimes our heart is just hard and we don't want to listen to God (v 5, 12). Sometimes our faith is shallow and we fall away in time of testing (v 6, 13). Sometimes we're distracted by cares and pleasures (v 7, 14). But whatever the reason, we are not producing fruit in these times.
Why are you not loving consistently right now? There are several possible reasons, but only you can honestly answer that question. Look deep into your heart. Why has your love for God grown cold? Is it an idol you are cherishing? Why are you resisting God? Is it pride? Why is your faithfulness so inconsistent? Have you been deepening your faith through the daily disciplines of prayer and Bible study?
Father, give us an awareness of whatever is preventing us from loving you consistently with our whole hearts.
