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The repentance of Ephraim. Their idols cast aside and a declaration made that their desire is no longer toward their former idols. Hos. 14:8 Inasmuch as salvation is an individual matter, this is a return to the Lord, person by person. A sure sign of true conversion is a total separation from all past objects of worship. The early church gave witness to this by the destruction of their books of sorcery, which were burned.
Acts 19:18-19 The Lord calls for a complete severance from all that is considered to be a god and from the teachings and paraphernalia of an idol or false god. Not only is the Lord a jealous God but His very name and character is Jealous.
Ex. 34:14 No man can serve two masters, he will the one and love the other. Mt. 6:24 God and mammon cannot be served at one and the same time.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made even both of them. Prov. 20:12 Having created these wonderful instruments and knowing that mankind was created in the image and likeness of the Lord, we can rest assured that He sees us and will respond to our cries of repentance. The man who comes to Him seeking salvation will quickly discover that He sees, He hears and He pardons. Job 33:27-28 Although the Lord punished Ephraim severely, He did not forget Him. With great compassion the Lord looked for and waited for him to return to Him. Jer. 31:20 The Lord observed Ephraim and heard his moaning and lamentations. His cry for the Lord to turn him about that he might return unto the Lord. Jer. 31:18 Did it work? Consider v. 19 The Lord is merciful!
I am like a green fir tree. Hos. 14:8c The Lord Jesus is that ever green, fragrant, tree of life. From the garden of Eden to the Heaven itself, the tree of life, eternal life, has been available to all who will receive it. Gen. 2:9, Rev. 22:2, 14 Those who have hearing ears, hear the Word of the Lord and are promised the privilege of participating of the tree of life. Rev. 2:7.
The fruit of the Christian life is not of ourselves but is of the Lord. Any righteousness that we are able to manifest is not of ourselves but fruits of righteous living, originate with the Lord and are imputed to us by Him. Phil. 1:11 For those who would say I can not live a life like Christ, consider the testimony of Paul, ìI can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.î Phil. 4:13 The ability to live like the Lord Jesus is not of man but it is allowing Him to live His life in us. Any and all spiritual fruit manifest in any Christians life must originate from the One who is the tree of Life. Dwelling in the Lord Jesus is the only way that His life may be duplicated in us. We may be most certain that His abiding presence will produce, ëmuch fruit.í John 15:5 He would have us be fruitful and will render all assistance necessary, for fruit glorifies the Father and is a sign of discipleship. John 15:8.