A slice of Hosea

I think we too often forget the gravity of sin. Take a read of this: A prophecy of God's just punishment against Israel's sin by the Babylonians attacking them:

Hosea 13:16
The people of Samaria must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open."

^ That's devastating. But that's what we deserve for our sin. How can God punish even the children? The children also are sinful - we all are. But then take a look at this from two verses before:

Hosea 13:14
"I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?..."

There is hope and life. Jesus took God's wrath for our sin - worse then the above mentioned wrath of God. he dealt with it in full so that anyone who turns to him can be saved! How great is God's love!
So what does our response need to be?

Hosea 14:1-2
Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God.
Your sins have been your downfall!
Take words with you
and return to the LORD.
Say to him:
“Forgive all our sins
and receive us graciously,
that we may offer the fruit of our lips.a

Only God can save. Repent and Believe the good news! Jesus has done immeasurably more then we can ever fathom!