Scripture verse
And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also...
And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 3:8,10
Imagine a married couple living happily together and one spouse commits adultery, sleeping around with other men or women in town. Suddenly all the joy in the home wanes because the devotion is broken.
The scripture likens Israel's idolatry to that of a harlot and instead of learning from experience, her sister Judah followed suit.
When God describes our relationship with him as one between a husband and wife He wants us to understand how intimate he wants us to be with him. The Bible calls us the bride of Christ, and In the same way anytime we pull away from him we become like a woman who leaves her husband to flirt with another man.
*In helping Hosea to understand how he, God, feels about idolatry he asked the prophet to marry a harlot *(Hosea 1:2)*. Why could a people who were brought out from Egypt, who had seen much power demonstrated and who had pledged their lives and their generation to God, get to this place where they could go out serving idols? Its because they refused to turn to God with their whole hearts.
This Christian walk is one that demands total surrender and anyone who makes the decision to put his hand to the plough must not look back. How far you will go in Christianity is a function of how much of your heart you are willing, and have given, to God. If you go all out you will get to the end and get God's blessings; all out.
If you go half in, you can barely go far and eventually you will fail. Love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind.
Prayer
Father help me to give You my all always. Make me willing to turn to You with my whole heart, withholding nothing. Amen
