Hosea 12:6 - What God Expects Of His Children . updated

Hos.12:6; What God Expects Of His Children. updated

Hosea 12:6 (NIV) But you must return to your God; maintain love 
and justice, and wait for your God always. 

The two principles that Hosea called his nation to live by, love 
and justice, are at the very foundation of God's character. They are 
essential to his followers, but they are not easy to keep in balance. Some 
people are loving to the point that they excuse wrongdoing. Others are 
just to the extent that they forget love. Love without justice, 
because it is not aiming at a higher standard, leaves people in their 
sins. Justice without love, because it has no heart, drives people 
away from God. To specialize in one at the expense of the other is to 
distort our witness. Today's church, just like Hosea's nation, must live 
by both principles. [Life Application SB] 

Actually there are three principles in this passages by which we 
are to live and the same three principles are found in Mic.6:8: 

Micah 6:8 (NCV) The LORD has told you, human, what is good; he 
has told you what he wants from you: to do what is right to other 
people, love being kind to others, and live humbly, obeying your God.  

There are things required in life.  To drive a car, you must 
have a driver's license.  To teach in a public school you need a 
teaching certificate.  These things are required so that a person may 
"do" something, or "be" something. To be a follower of God, there are 
requirements.  Fear God, not as the "Great Punisher in the Sky," but rather 
with a reverence for who and what He is! We can begin to see Him in 
His creation.  To walk in His ways is to order your life, your walk, 
according to His Word, which must be regularly read to know Him more 
fully.  And as you begin to know Him more fully, you grow in affection 
for Him.  And this ultimately leads to the desire to serve Him.  To 
know Him, to love Him, to serve Him.  Is that your desire?  Today 
draw near, read His Word and pray to Him.  It is His desire you 
should.  [In His Time, Walk with Wisdom] 

The call of God, "Wait on thy God continually," must be accepted 
and obeyed.... This waiting continually is indeed a necessity. To 
those who are content with a feeble Christian life, it appears a 
luxury something beyond what is essential to be a good Christian. But 
all who are praying the prayers, "Lord! make me as holy as a 
pardoned sinner can be made! Keep me as near to Thee as it is possible 
for me to be! Fill me as full of Thy love as Thou art willing to 
do!" feel at once that it is something that must be had. They feel 
that there can be no unbroken fellowship with God, no full abiding in 
Christ, no maintaining victory over sin and readiness for service, 
without waiting continually on the Lord.... 
Waiting on God continually will be met and rewarded by God 
Himself working continually.... He who by His Spirit teaches you to wait 
continually, will bring you to experience also how, as the Everlasting One, 
His work is never-ceasing.... Your waiting continually will then 
come of itself. Full of trust and joy the holy habit of the soul will 
be, "On Thee do I wait all the day." The Holy Spirit will keep you 
ever waiting. (Andrew Murray) [Spirit Filled Life Devotional SB]