Secular: ** Proverbs 31 wife

Sympathy… Women… Guys locker room… crying on shoulder

            Couples talk about children

Biblical: Jeremiah 8:4 "Say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: "'When men fall down, do they not get up? When a man turns away, does he not return?

 5 Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They cling to deceit; they refuse to return.

Restoration - Jeremiah 24:7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

Personal: ** In the wilderness. Tear your heart out when children go astray.

-          watching them wander – lack of faith

-          Pride / humility

-          Identity

Bridge: We often have a warmer closer feeling to Christ than God the Father. Character of God in a situation – Past, Present, Future.

NIV Hosea 11:1 "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

-          Love to a child ** off to school

-          Exodus      * Redeemer

-          Jesus Matthew 2:15          *Redeemer

 2 But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images.

-          Failings despite the Father’s (father’s) effort

-          Doing opposite to what was taught

 3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them.

 4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.

-          Child walking… keep going

-          Remove burden – roof, warm bed

·         Broken hearted

·         Tender Hearted

·         Rebellious and callous reaction by children

** At the window

Application:    Unconditional love…

                        What does it look like for Father to forgive us?

                        What does that look like as an earthly parent?                  

Amos 3:2 – unconditional yes…free from judgment… no (bike… grounding)

 5 "Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent?

 6 Swords will flash in their cities, will destroy the bars of their gates and put an end to their plans.

·         There is penalty for disobedience

·         1 Timothy 1:20 – community level… allow them to suffer

·         wrong has natural consequences

·         Sometimes we have to let go even if….

 7 My people are determined to turn from me. Even if they call to the Most High, he will by no means exalt them.

·         belligerent, stubborn, miserable – determined to be disobedient

§         how about you? Sin lately? Nagging problem… continually fighting – patience

·         Look at Peter… face to face with Jesus…

·         Look at Paul… at least an accomplice to murder of Christian

Acts 3:15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

 17 "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.

 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ {18 Or Messiah; also in verse 20} would suffer.

 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

 20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you-- even Jesus.

Application:    Remember we strain against our Father…

                        Compassion with firmness… natural consequences

                        But unconditional love…

 8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.

 9 I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man-- the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.

 10 They will follow the LORD; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.

 11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from Assyria. I will settle them in their homes," declares the LORD.

• Prodigal son – Luke 15:11

§         open arms

§         love

§         restrained anger

v 10 & 11 – God will call his children home – BE THERE!!

Application:    God will be there – always faithful

                        We need to be there – always faithful (children & belief)

                        Connections…