Seek God's Face

Hosea prophesied God’s judgments upon Israel because of their sin of pride that led them to fall “in their iniquity” (v. 5). God said that He will distance Himself from them, until “they acknowledge their offence,” and seek His face! God will also distance Himself from us when we are away from Him (Isa 59:2). He will not hear our prayers if we “regard iniquity” (Ps 66:18), in our hearts. He lovingly chastises His children (Heb 12:6), to get our attention (Ps 80:3), so we can turn back to Him (Rev 2:5). But if we humbly admit our offence (Jms 4:10), then He shall restore our broken fellowship (1 Jn 1:7). As God’s children (Jn 1:12), we shall never lose our salvation.

 Because no one can pluck us out of our Saviour’s “hand” (Jn 10:28), the “Father’s hand” (Jn 10:29), and we are “sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph 1:13) – that’s triple security! Our broken fellowship can be revived if we “humble ourselves, and pray, and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways” (2 Chr 7:14). Many professing believers have turned away from God by indulging in habitual sins such as drugs, alcohol, pornography, and gambling. Their “love of money” (1 Tim 6:10), and their love of “the things that are in the world” (1 Jn 2:15), have sidetracked them.

Surely, we can’t see God’s face (Jn 1:18), but we can visualize our suffering Saviour (Isa 53:4), and His great love for us (Rom 5:8); He shed His precious blood on the cross to forgive our sins (Eph 1:7). Then “He rose from the dead” (1 Cor 15:12), to give us assurance that He “will also raise up us by His own power” (1 Cor 6:14). We can also seek His face through our prayers (Ps 27:8), and through our praises and thanksgiving (Ps 105:1). May we continually “seek the Lord and His strength” (1 Chr 16:11). By keeping our eyes focused on Him! God bless you!

- Pastor Melito Barrera