Adultery.

Okie, the title is alittle jialart.

But that’s the whole point, to catch your attention to the seriousness of this post.

I’ve been reflecting and thinking about obedience and how so often we are so easily entangled by sin in our lives.

In the quietness of my heart, God spoke to me.

He likened disobedience to Him like adultery, for in the Bible it is written that God is like a husband to His people. And one day God is coming for His bride, which is the Church. Note the capital for CHURCH; I’m talking about the United Church of Jesus Christ, which goes beyond all denominations. As long as you are a disciple of Christ, I’ll be seeing you at the Great Wedding Banquet. Anyway, as I was saying, God is often referred to as Husband, as it is written in Jeremiah.

The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. – Jeremiah 31:31-32

As God spoke to me, I realized how much He’s hurt by our disobedient actions. Suddenly this thought came to my mind – How would I feel if my wife ran off with another man? How would I feel if my wife was adulterous?

It wouldn’t be a pretty sight.

And then the voice of the Spirit spoke again. “This is how I feel every time you turn away from me and choose sin.”

I was reminded of the story in the Book of Hosea, when He commanded the Prophet Hosea to marry an adulterous woman named Gomer. And though Gomer returned to her old ways, God demonstrated His love for her through Hosea.

Here’s the account:

The LORD said to me, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes." – Hosea 3:1

I’m simply amaze at how God gives His children second chances. Even though we may walk away from God, choosing to follow the evil ways of our hearts, He demonstrates His enduring love to us again and again. Yet we must not take His grace for granted. I wouldn’t want to test God in this by constantly walking away. He loves me; and I want to love Him back with all that I’ve got.

“But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.” – Psalm 33:18