God forgives disobedience

I will heal their backsliding. I will love them freely. – Hosea 14:4

I’ll never forget the painful lesson I learned in early childhood about disobedience. My father, who had been mowing our lawn, interrupted his work to go shopping. He left the push mower standing near some flowers and ordered me not to touch it while he was gone. But I disobeyed him and gave it a push. To my shock, the mower veered and knocked over several flowers.

When Dad returned, I blubbered, "I didn’t mean to do it!" Wisely, he replied, "Why did you do it then?" I knew the truth – I did mean to push the mower. My sin wasn’t that I mowed the flowers down, it was that I disobeyed my father.

This childhood lesson is a reminder to be sorry for disobedience and not just the consequences. Rather than blubber to God, "I didn’t mean to do it," I do what Hosea told wayward Israel to do: "Take words [of repentance] with you, and return to the LORD" (Hosea 14:2). I tell the Lord honestly that I knew His will but chose to disobey, and cry out for His mercy. Praise God, He forgives!

Are you grieved that you chose to disobey, and not merely sorry about the consequences? Then "take words with you, and return to the LORD" today. He promises to forgive you of your sin, for He loves you freely (v. 4). – Joanie Yoder

I’ve strayed, O Lord, and turned aside,

I’ve disobeyed Your voice;

But now with contrite heart I turn

And make Your will my choice. – D. De Haan

READ: Hosea 14

Repentance keeps the way clear in our walk with God.