God's Family
Hosea 11:1-11, Colossians 3:1-11
Iowastar

These are two very nice scripture readings that are not totally familiar to most people. I wish we held them closer to our hearts. They are such warm images of God's tender-loving-kindness, and how it changes us.

It is as if we are being wrapped in God's great arms. Imagine being held, lead and healed by God. Being loved in this way helps us to let go of fear, greed, apathy, control. That may sound simple. But learning how to receive love and how to accept people who are different from us is a very fine art.

Unconditional love- now there's a concept. It's easy to talk about when work is good, the family is good, the money is good, and the sun is shining. But unconditional love is much more than that good time feeling the good times give us. Is that ever clear in the message from Hosea.

Here, we have Hosea talking about God as a holy, loving Parent. And we people are Israel, the child. What a tender and loving parent God is... kissing a cheek; bending down in love; delighting as the child learns to walk. Oh, God loves us with such a deep tenderness. It is so rich and unconditional and beyond our ability to comprehend.

It's thought Hosea wrote this passage after his three children had completed their teen years. He was a single parent much of the time they grew up. Obviously he's had a hard time with those kids. I think they went through something typically called a rebellious stage...

Can any parent relate to these feelings of which he's? On one hand, he's so fond, and adoring of his children. But on the other hand, parenthood can be so frustrating. Arrrrrrgh!.

Hosea says this is the kind of turmoil God goes through because of our rebellion..

"What am I supposed to do with you?" "Can't you just listen to me and do what I say?" "Look at all the trouble you've created!" "How do I get through to you?"

This is the million dollar question. In God's struggle to do his job right, and to set us right, God is asking, "How do I get through to you?"

It's getting to be an old movie, but I am reminded of the film called "Parenthood," starring Steve Martin. Do you remember it? As my memory serves me in the beginning of it we meet Steve Martin and his wife. They have a 10 year old neurotic son who can't get over his feelings of nervousness, unworthiness, and panic no matter how the parents try to help him. Steve is his baseball coach, his birthday entertainment, and he even pays a therapist to work with him. But nothing seems to work, Steve and his wife can't give this child what he needs.

Then there is Steve's sister, who is newly divorced with a teen-age daughter and a pre-teen son. I have the feeling it's not her the husband has left, but more likely, the chaos of this family. Because, the daughter is simply beyond control. The son's anger and confusion over the divorce has sent him on such emotional roller-coaster which over-whelms the mother. She has no clue how to help these kids deal with their issues.

Then there's Steve's father. Who appears to be in a world of his own. But, he has his own cross to bear with a second son who is an addict and gambler and is constantly looking to his father to bail him out of trouble. This goes even to the extreme of the son seeking to sell his father's pride and joy, a vintage car. And, again, the father does not know how to help that son. He just gives to him and gives to him virtually all that he has.

What do the neurotic son, the out of control teenage daughter, the angry boy and this addicted man have in common? They are kids who are hard to love. They appear to be beyond help. And no one knows what to do for them.

But, in the end of the movie, this family is still holding together. Not because of the therapist, or the bank account, or the house rules. They're all together because no matter what happens, no matter how crazy their world becomes, or how angry they get with each other, their love is stronger still.

This is what is meant by unconditional love. No matter what you do, I love you. I may not like your words or actions. But I do love you. Even when you deserve nothing from me. I still love you.

Friends, this is the love that God offers to you. God has attempted absolutely everything to extend this relationship to us. Not one of us deserves it. We are very tough kids to love. God even sent his son Jesus to die on that cross to prove the magnitude of his love for us. Being loved like this means you can let go of your fear, apathy, control. You can even let go of your belief that you have to be the perfect parent, capable of fulfilling your child's every need. Just believe and accept this awesome gift. Because no matter what you do, God is still offering it to you. No matter how you act, God still loves you. No matter who you are. God loves you.

Remember that when all the rebellion is over, when all the anger is spent, and all the chaos of your life seems to have you trapped. God's love is greater, deeper, stronger, and bigger. In the end, it alone will remain. Depend on it today and love him back. Love him back.