Title: A Contrast of Attitudes/Topic: Wisdom

Today’s Reading: Hosea 13; Hosea 14; Psalm 100; Psalm 101; Psalm 102; Hebrews 5

Scripture: Hebrews 5:7-10; Hosea 13:6-9
7During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
6 When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me. 7 So I will come upon them like a lion, like a leopard I will lurk by the path. 8 Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them and rip them open. Like a lion I will devour them; a wild animal will tear them apart. 9 "You are destroyed, O Israel, because you are against me, against your helper.

Observation: As I was reading these scriptures, I noted a sharp contrast in the attitudes of Israel's people who were rebellious and Jesus, who, even though he was God incarnate, learned with a heart of reverent submission. His prayers were heard because of this reverence and submission. In contrast to this, the people of Israel, who knew God and had received many blessings from Him, were arrogant and forgot God (they still went through the rituals of worship, but it made no difference in their behavior; they lived as they wanted to without regard to what God had said was right and wrong). The result of this was destruction in their lives.

Application: Be teachable. Seek God during times of trial in order to learn to be more obedient. Have an attitude of reverence. And pray fervently, as Jesus did, counting on God for deliverance. If Jesus was humble before God his Father, who am I to think I can be full of pride?

Prayer: Father, I have seen the result of arrogance in the lives of many people and I desire to have that purged out of me completely. I want to be like you; learning obedience from the things I suffer and being heard by God because of my reverent submission. Help me to be like you. I submit to you as my Lord and Savior. You are good and kind, and I want to be a light in this world as you were and are.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.