This month I’ve learned a lot about love, ironic I know.
It is, after all, the season of love. Thoughtful cards and extravagant flowers are purchased, savory chocolates and instagram worthy proposals are celebrated.
But I’m not talking about that kind of love, I mean something very different. The kind of love that redeems.
As we ministered this month I read through the novel, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It is a retelling of the biblical story Hosea. In the story, the man was told by God to marry a prostitute, and when she returned to her old life, to bring her back and forgive her.
“Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them-not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the Lord their God, will save them.” -Hosea 1:7
So HOW DOES He save them? If not by dramatic bravery and heroism, how does He save us?
By His redeeming love.
February 15th, 2018
We walked the busy streets of Yerevan and introduced ourselves to the girls.
The women, dressed in their short skirts and low cut tops were excited to meet us. “America??” “Disco?” They giggled and danced for us. We gave them freshly baked cookies wrapped with lots of warm hugs and prayers.
The Lord had clearly gone before us and prepared the hearts of everyone we met. Conversations came easy, tears came quickly, truth given readily. “They feel dirty and unclean,” our translator and friend relays “they want prayer for God to bless them, even though they are in this line of work.”
I think back to the chapter I read in Redeeming Love right before we left,
“Love cleanses, beloved. It doesn’t beat you down. It doesn’t cast blame.” He kissed her again, wishing he had the right words to say what he felt. Words would never be enough to show her what he meant. “My love isn’t a weapon. It’s a lifeline. Reach out and take hold, and don’t let go.”
They hold onto me like frightened children clinging to their mother on the first day of school. I squeeze them as hard as I can, speaking the love of Jesus over their lives and willing them to see their value and identity as redeemed and worthy in God’s eyes.
“Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her…there she will respond as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt. “In that day.” declares the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master.’ Hosea 2:14-15
Then there were the men.
I hate the men.
The intense anger that rises up inside me always takes me by surprise. My thoughts are cloaked with darkness. Violent thirst for justice and judgement whirl inside my mind, and I am overcome with loathing.
They honk as they drive past, yelling and leering at the women as they drive, sizing us up as well. I look them in the eye, standing as tall as I can, daring them to speak to me.
In the midst of my “righteous anger”, the Lord sees through my condemnation and gently nudges my heart with His truth,
”…they are hurting too”
No, God. I will not take pity on them.
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.” Hosea 11:1-2
“With human kindness little one, how will they know my love if you do not show them?”
photo by Eli Olson
I look inside the car parked next to us. Two prostitutes sit, enjoying their fresh cookies as their pimp watches closely, his presence looming over the women. I swallow my pride and look over at him.
He avoids my eyes, but I stand stubbornly at the window waiting for him to make eye contact. I do my best to smile at him, “do you want some cookies?” He looks down, a small grin tugging at the corners of his mouth and slowly shakes his head “no”. The woman beside him seems to think otherwise, and laughing she says “yes, yes!” I reach out my hand and give him a bag.
“Every blessing comes down from the Father, not in payment for good done, but as a gift.”
The pimp turns to us, and telling us to be very careful in this area, he gives us his support of our mission to pray for the girls and love on them. He says we are welcome to come back any time. A rosary hangs from his rearview mirror.
I look away, compassion for this man creeping into my heart…they are hurting too.
“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:1-3
Why is His love so redeeming? So different from ours?
His love isn’t skewed by human emotions. His love isn’t fueled by cruel intent or motivations. He isn’t overcome with giddy fantasy and rose-colored glasses. He isn’t overwhelmed by promises of bliss and perfection and a life full of honeymoons. He isn’t obligated or guilted.
His love is a choice.
He went to the cross that day because He chose to.
He chose us.
“My people are determined to turn from me. Even though they call me God most High, I will by no means exalt them. How can I give you up, Ehpraim? How can I hand you over Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.” Hosea 11:7-8
I wonder…what must it be like to know that the people you love most will reject you?
Deny you?
Hide from you?
Betray you?
What must it be like to make a choice every day to push back your beloved creations’ barriers, walls and fear. To press in, to pursue their hearts.
Every day choosing love, even on days you know you won’t receive it in return.
That’s the kind of love I want… the kind that chooses.
Redeeming Love.
His Love.
“I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.” Hosea 2:19-20
photo by Eli Olson
What will you choose?
“She thought she had been saved by his love for her, and in part she had been. It had cleansed her, never casting blame. But that had been only the beginning. It was loving him in return that had brought her up out of the darkness.”
