How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? My heart has changed within me. All my compassion is aroused. Hosea eleven eight husker, my small Yorkie, has the cutest face. So many people looking at photos of him comment, oh, he is so cute. Even when I tell tales of misdeeds, when he has gotten himself into a bit of trouble, they will say, oh, but look at that cute little face. How can you stay mad at a face like that? Of course it's true. It is very hard to stay angry when you see that cute little face. It's nearly impossible to stay angry for too long, no matter what mischief he's been up to. I wish my wife would think I was that cute so she wouldn't stay mad at me when I mess up. I think she used to look at me that way. But that ship has long since sailed. What we experience when looking at a cute little puppy face is a little like what God experiences when he looks at his people. Although they have done things that have stirred up his anger, his compassion often overrides his anger. Jeremiah wrote, men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion. So great is his unfailing love. How can I give you up? God says, how can I give you over? My heart has changed within me. This does not mean that we can do as we please without restraint or regret. It does not mean that we can assume that God can never bring himself to be angry with us for any length of time, let alone for eternity. The Bible tells us clearly that there is a hell and that sinful, unrepentant souls will spend eternity therein. We have no right to expect that God will let us off the hook when we sin just because, you know, he is a kind and loving and forgiving God. He is kind and loving, and he does forgive those who repent and humble themselves before him. But he is also just and will punish all who do not repent and who continue in their sin despite his pleading and warnings of the consequence. Yes, God loves us even when we're bad. That is an unchangeable fact. But the love of God is not incompatible with his demand that justice be met and that sin be. That's why Jesus came and died, to bear the penalty we deserved. Hosea told Israel that she could come under God's loving favor again if she would turn from her sin and rebellion and seek his face. We can experience God's favor as well by repenting of our sin and falling at the feet of our crucified and risen savior.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to dailythoughtspodcastmail.com. Have a great day and we hope youll join us tomorrow as Pastor Steve opens gods word to bring us another thought for the day.