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Day 245, or September 2.

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True change doesn't come by chance.

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Our thoughts today come from Hosea chapter 5 verse 15.

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Then I will return to my lair, Until they have borne their guilt and seek my face.

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In their misery they will earnestly seek me.

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And now the big picture surrounding this verse.

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Israel goes out of their way to disobey God, and worship the gods of their pagan neighbours.

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Hosea was preaching just before the prophet Amos, and both of them probably lived to witness

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the Assyrians invade and ultimately scatter the northern tribes.

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This left only the two southern ones, Judah and Benjamin.

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This wilful disobedience cost the northern tribes greatly, but many faithful individuals

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migrated south into Judah, where they continued to serve their god faithfully.

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And now today's action step.

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Until we admit we are in need, we will never turn to God.

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I've heard it said that when John Wesley preached in big cities like Newcastle on

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the plain, he always first preached God and His law.

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Wesley said that he only preached Jesus when his audience bowed their heads and were aware

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of their sins, and even then only a glimpse at first, until they were really seeking a

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solution to their problem of sin and separation from God.

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Sometimes we offer Jesus as a solution before people are aware of their problem.

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It's like selling headache tablets to someone who doesn't know they have a headache.

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God told His people through Hosea that He would patiently wait until His people realize

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that they are miserable and earnestly seek a solution in God.

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I remember questioning what life was all about in my late teens, and finally looked for a

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solution in God.

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I gave Him twelve months, and He graciously met me long before the year was out.

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I thought I needed something, but I actually needed someone.

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Bear this in mind when you are tempted to dump the whole gospel on an unsuspecting friend

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or relative.

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Unless the Holy Spirit is part of your conversation, there is a danger that your words are nothing

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more than hot air.