Micah 7:18-19

January 25, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18-19).

What a wonderful way to close out a book that focuses on those who have gone far from God. Here, Micah reminds Judah of the restoration that God offers. God will cast our sins into the depths of the sea.

Below are verses that duplicate this same idea.

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (‭‭Psalm‬ ‭103‬:‭11‬-‭12‬).

“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭25‬).

“And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah‬ ‭31‬:‭34‬).

“For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬).

Let’s celebrate the goodness of our God.

There is none like you, Lord. Thank you for hiding away my sin to be remembered no more. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, forgiveness, Micah, Old Testament

Jonah 3:1-2

January 17, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.’” (Jonah 3:1-2‬).

These verses tell us much about God. First, we see his kindness toward Jonah. Though we should not demand that God give multiple opportunities to obey, we see that He has the capacity to do so. However, notice that God required Jonah to do what He told him to do the first time. God didn’t reduce the requirement the second time just to get Jonah’s cooperation. 

Second, we see God’s kindness toward Nineveh. God continued dealing with Jonah to deliver the message of repentance to Nineveh. I know he continued offering me the message of repentance before I believed. He still does. 

Father, thank you for your kindness toward me. Please help me not to waste or tread on your kindness. Amen. 

Filed Under: Assyria, devotional thoughts, forgiveness, Jonah, Old Testament, Prophecy

Amos 5:4-5

January 9, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: ‘Seek me and live; but do not seek Bethel, and do not enter into Gilgal or cross over to Beersheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing’” (Amos 5:4-5).

The Lord is consistent in offering forgiveness and restoration for those who turn to Him: “Seek me and live.” The caveat is that He is not interested in divided loyalty. In other words, He didn’t want to share the stage with idols. Thus, he forbade the people from involving themselves in idolatry, specifically at Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba. 

The Lord still offers forgiveness for those who turn to Him through Jesus Christ. And, He still refuses to share the stage with others. At times, this can be challenging for me as my flesh seeks to have Jesus AND the world. 

Father, help me have a repentant heart, focused solely on you. Amen.

Filed Under: Amos, devotional thoughts, forgiveness, heart matters, idolatry, Old Testament

Joel 2:25

January 3, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you” (Joel 2:25).

This is one of my favorite verses, offering hope of restoration. Here, the Lord is offering to undo the damage done by the locusts in chapter one. Chapter one focused on Israel’s disobedience. Chapter two focuses on repentance. Notice the order: Chapter one is bad news. Chapter two is good news. 

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.” (2‬:‭12‬-‭13‬)

Through Joel, God is calling Judah to turn their hearts back to him. I believe this call to repentance demonstrates consistency between the OT and NT. 

Two happy reminders from Joel chapter two:

1. God restores sinners who repent. 
2. God is consistent. 

Father, thank you for offering restoration and for being consistent. These things give me hope and encouragement. Amen. 

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, forgiveness, Israel, Joel, Restoring Israel

Hosea 14:1, 4

January 1, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity” (Hosea 14:1).

“I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them” (Hosea 14:4‬).

Just when one thinks unbelieving Israel is a lost cause, God shows His heart. Just when one thinks God has rebuked Israel to the point of exhaustion, God shows His heart. Just when it seems that Israel has finally gone too far into idolatry, God shows His heart. 

In my mind, this book has offered sharper rebukes of Israel than other books. So sharp, in fact, at times it felt like God had tossed Israel aside. Yet, the opening section where God told Hosea to take a wife of whoredom, and to take her back each time she left with another man, should have been a clue that God was not through with Israel. If that wasn’t enough to help me believe that God is not done with Israel, this last chapter should do the trick. 

First, God shows His heart when He calls Israel to repent. “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity” (1). God desires to forgive and restore Israel. 

Second, God says what will happen if Israel repents. “I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them” (4‬).

This consistency gives me hope that God will forgive and restore me when I sin. 

Father, thank you for your kindness and mercy. Thank you for your faithfulness. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, forgiveness, Hosea, idolatry, Old Testament, Restoring Israel
« Previous Page
Next Page »