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Friday, March 12, 2010

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Hosea 14:2-10
Psalm 81:6-11, 14, 17
Mark 12:28-34

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read my lips!

"If only..." —Psalm 81:14

When parents talk to their children, they sometimes feel they are talking to a wall. Imagine how the Lord feels! God laments: "If only My people would hear Me..." (Ps 81:14). Let us listen to the Lord speak:

  • "If My people, upon whom My name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek My presence and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and revive their land" (2 Chr 7:14).
  • "If only My people would hear Me, and...walk in My ways...I would feed [them] with the best of wheat, and with honey from the rock I would fill them" (Ps 81:14, 17).
  • "If, then, you truly heed My commandments which I enjoin on you today, loving and serving the Lord, your God, with all your heart and all your soul, I will give the seasonal rain to your land...Thus you may eat your fill" (Dt 11:13-15).
  • "Act on this word. If all you do is listen to it, you are deceiving yourselves" (Jas 1:22).

The Lord tells us: "My sheep hear My voice...They follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish" (Jn 10:27-28). "Once you know all these things, blest will you be if you put them into practice" (Jn 13:17). "Let him who has ears to hear Me, hear!" (Mk 4:23)

Prayer:  Father, give me "ears open to obedience" (Ps 40:7).

Promise:  "I will heal their defection, I will love them freely; for My wrath is turned away from them." —Hos 14:5

Praise:  Michael frequently draws upon experiences of his own fatherhood to better understand the ways of God the Father.

Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
(Come listen to the Lord at our retreat center in Adams County. Apr. 16 begins a series of retreats to deepen your relationship with God. Go to www.presentationministries.com or call 937-587-5464 for information.)

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 26, 2009

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