| It’s a Love Story Contribution
by: C. Gene Wilkes
A Devotion from A 40 Day Experience - Extreme Love: The
Greatest Commandment, Day 6.
The story of the world and everything in it is a love story.
A small story tucked away in the middle of the Bible speaks
volumes about God’s love for us. It’s the love
story of a preacher and his wife, a prostitute. Hard to believe?
Read on.
Hosea loved his wife with an unconditional love. The scoffers
laughed: “Look at Hosea! He’s at it again, looking
for his beloved wife.”
Hosea would search and eventually find her in the red-light
district. Despite her lying, despite her adultery, Hosea loved
his bride. Despite her cruelty, despite her sin, Hosea loved
his wife.
At the apex of this romantic catastrophe, Hosea again searched
the inner city for his wife. And off in the distance he saw
her. She was an ugly sight. Bruised, beaten, naked, humiliated,
destroyed. She had nothing. Hosea went back to their house
and frantically gathered up all their possessions—their
money, their food, everything of value. He ran to the auction
block, and as the bidding began, Hosea cried out, “I’ll
give everything I have!”
The crowd slowly parted as he covered her trembling, humiliated
body. He picked her up, this broken woman who had been enslaved.
He picked her up and carried her home.
Paid in full.
And there was a time when God looked down on the auction
block of the world and saw you and me. An ugly sight. Bruised,
beaten, naked, humiliated, destroyed, enslaved to sin. We
had nothing. But God gave everything that He had, His beloved
Son, to pay the price for our sin.
It’s the kind of love that knows no boundaries. A righteous
thing. A tender thing. A strong thing. Amazing. It is sweet.
It is grace. Greater love? There is none. It is found in God
alone.
God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were
still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8, NIV).
Have you accepted His offer? If you are ready to enter into
this incredible relationship, pray this prayer right now.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am tired of trying to live my life
by myself. I’m tired of trying to measure up to worldly
standards and expectations. I’m stopping all my self-saving
attempts because I realize that my only hope is You. I believe
in You. I turn away from living outside Your grace. I accept
Your forgiveness and eternal life. I accept Your invitation
to join You and become a part of Your family here on earth.
In your name I pray. Amen.
_____________________
C. Gene Wilkes is pastor, Legacy Drive Baptist Church, Plano,
Texas. He is the author of Jesus on Leadership: Developing
Servant Leaders (ISBN 0805493514).
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