A Note from Michael Gossett
“Return”
I wouldn’t normally say that if you are in need of encouragement, go to the book of Hosea. Or that is what I might say before I take the time to reread the powerful message of Hosea. The prophet wrote about The Great Return. Return is a very common word today. If something you purchase doesn’t fit the way you thought it should, or perhaps you just found a better deal, “return” is the simple answer. In the e-commerce business, 30-35% of all products that are ordered online will be returned by the consumer. In 2022, returns cost retailers a whopping $816 Billion. That statistic is staggering!
The most returned items are clothing. If you’re not happy with the product you ordered, just return it. When the retailer receives a returned item, it is not good for their bottom line. The number of returns directly affects a company’s consumer ratings. If the consumer had their “return” rights revoked, it would not just cause dissatisfaction; it would slow down all purchasing. Consumers are driven to spend less cautiously when they know they can make a return under the umbrella of retailer grace. This causes consumers to become more flippant and less prudent in their decision-making. What is interesting is that many times, followers of Jesus act in the same way.
Chapters 1-5 in Hosea are not for the faint of heart. Hosea pointed out that the people of God were not acting according to the standard that the Lord had set for them. They became careless in their lifestyle and casual with their decisions, while showing little remorse or sincerity in their understanding of God’s grace and holiness. How could they get to such a point in their lives? The return policy has allowed the people of God to operate in a presumptuous way. They began presuming on the grace of God, rather than depending on the grace of God.
Hosea 4:1-3 says, “Hear the word of the Lord people of Israel, for the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land: There is no truth, no faithful love, and no knowledge of God in the land! Cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. For this reason, the land mourns, and everyone who lives in it languishes, along with the wild animals and the birds of the sky; even the fish of the sea disappear.”
This is how far astray the people of God had gone. Their rebellion was to the point where there was no truth, no love, and no knowledge of God in the land. The return policy in the back of their minds allowed them to wander further and further from the truth of God. Our enemy tries to deceive those who claim to know God that they can live apart from God with the careless assumption that they are covered by God’s grace. This was an ancient heresy in the church called antinomianism. It is literally the “ism” of anti-law. Today, antinomianism is living against the ways of God, while assuming you are covered by the grace of God. This faulty thinking can be compared to speeding as fast as possible toward a cliff and deciding to drive off because you’re wearing a seatbelt! This behavior is reckless and no one in their wildest dreams would ever imagine trusting in that type of security. Yet, many flirt in the same way with their relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus is not our safety belt that will enable us to live with reckless disregard to His ways, His priorities, and His design for our lives. We can’t live this way and expect things to all work out in the end.
This type of living has been addressed through the centuries, but Paul was the first to address this problem with such carelessness. Romans 6:1-7 says, “What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin.”
The grace of God that is bestowed on you never allows a thoughtless or careless continuation in sin, but rather a covering for your sin that allows you to pursue holiness in Christ. If you have truly been saved by grace through faith, then you will have a desire to draw near to God and to draw toward the things of God. The kind of return God allows is one of a contrite heart. Our return to God is based on our brokenness and His willingness to cover us by His grace. We can’t return to God to get another hall pass to wander the halls of the world and follow our own desires. Instead, we return with a repentant heart with an understanding of our desperate need for God’s grace in our lives. Let us all say together as they did in Hosea 6:1-3, “Come, let’s return to the Lord. For he has torn us, and he will heal us; he has wounded us, and he will bind up our wounds. He will revive us after two days, and on the third day he will raise us up so we can live in his presence. Let’s strive to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.” Is that your desire for today?
Prayer: “Lord, let us return to you today. Would you allow me, my family, my spouse, my church, my business, and my co-workers to experience your healing? Please give me a deep desire to know you. Thank you for your mercy, Lord. Only because of your mercy would you ever allow me to come to you and then return again. Lord, this is because of your goodness and your provision. Let me rest in you today. Amen.”
This Sunday, we will continue our study in Hebrews. We will study Hebrews 7:1-28 to examine the Greater Blessing of Christ. Begin reading and preparing now. Hebrews 7:1-28 says, “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, met Abraham and blessed him as he returned from defeating the kings, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means king of righteousness, then also, king of Salem, meaning king of peace. 3 Without father, mother, or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
4 Now consider how great this man was: even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the plunder to him. 5 The sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command according to the law to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers and sisters—though they have also descended from Abraham. 6 But one without this lineage collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. 7 Without a doubt, the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case, men who will die receive a tenth, but in the other case, Scripture testifies that he lives. 9 And in a sense Levi himself, who receives a tenth, has paid a tenth through Abraham, 10 for he was still within his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
11 Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be according to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well. 13 For the one these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe. No one from it has served at the altar.
14 Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests. 15 And this becomes clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 who did not become a priest based on a legal regulation about physical descent but based on the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it has been testified: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. 18 So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable 19 (for the law perfected nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 20 None of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath made by the one who said to him: The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever.” 22 Because of this oath, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23 Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. 24 But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them. 26 For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself.28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever.”
I cannot wait to worship with you this Sunday!
You are loved and prayed for!
Michael Gossett