"killed with kindness"
"The more abundant his fruit, the more altars he built; the more productive his land, the more sacred pillars he set up." —Hosea 10:1
The Lord wants us to "learn the easy way" rather than the hard way. He wants to love us into repentance rather than punish us. He wants to gift us, not shame us (see Lk 15:22). How then will we respond to the Lord's forgiveness, love, and mercy? Will we respond in loving repentance or choose to be "spoiled rotten?" Will we abuse God's love and become even more selfish, or will His crucified love lead us to deny ourselves?
The more Hosea loved Gomer, the more unfaithful she became. The more the Lord blessed Israel, the more devoted she became to false gods. If we respond to God's love in this perverted way, He has no choice but to give us the "tough love" of justice and punishment. To break through our selfishness, the Lord must let us have the consequences of our sins, i.e., sickness, failure, frustration, emptiness, slavery, pain, etc.
Will you let the Lord "kill you with kindness," or will you kill yourself with selfishness? Repent. He loves you. Go to Confession. He loves you. Die to self. He loves you. Respond to His love with love.
Prayer: Father, may I repent because things are so good, before they become so bad.
Promise: Jesus "summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority to expel unclean spirits and to cure sickness and disease of every kind." —Mt 10:1
Praise: Theresa prayed for twenty years that her husband could stop drinking. Then he did.
Reference: (Are you looking for a way to serve the Lord? Have you been blessed and do you want to show the Lord your thanks? Presentation Ministries has many opportunities to give back to the Lord. Call 937-587-5464 or 513-373-2397 to find out how.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 29, 2009
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