Category: God’s goodness

I Just Wanted to Get Away! #20

Monday, September 29, 2025

“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10 KJV).

Will sinners “get away” from accountability before God?

In Acts chapters 7–9, religious leader Saul of Tarsus was a Pharisee who hated Jesus’ name and tirelessly hunted believing Jews. Yet, Saul gave up depending on his “goodness” and trusted Christ’s righteousness (Philippians 3:3-9). As Paul the Apostle decades later, he writes of himself: “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting” (1 Timothy 1:13-16).

The salvation or justification of Saul/Paul is a “pattern” of how God has dealt with Christ-rejecting sinners for 2,000 years now. Firstly, He has been “merciful” or compassionate, holding back the wrath we sinners deserve. Secondly, He has been “gracious” or generous, giving us the favor we sinners do not deserve. Thirdly, He has been “peaceful” or friendly, pausing the war we sinners deserve. For a moment, He has interrupted the prophetic program, “[that] which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21), that He may operate the mystery program, “[that] which was kept since the world began, but now is manifest [through the Pauline epistles, Romans to Philemon]” (Romans 16:25,26).

God has caused the nation Israel to temporarily fall, concluded all Jews and all Gentiles in unbelief, that He might have mercy on all nations without distinction (see Romans 11:11-14,30-32). What we need to do is the only thing we can do without doing anything: we need to believe on Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for our sins. Since the Lord Jesus was our substitute on Calvary so long ago, we now enjoy God’s blessings….

I Just Wanted to Get Away! #19

Sunday, September 28, 2025

“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10 KJV).

Will sinners “get away” from accountability before God?

It is the good pleasure of the God of the Bible, the Creator God, the Lord Jesus Christ, to fill us with His life. After all, it is His purpose for the human species, which is separate and distinct from the animal kingdom. Yet, until we have a personal relationship with Him by faith in His finished crosswork as sufficient payment for our sins, we cannot experience this true life (eternal life).

His attitude toward mankind today is “grace and peace” (and so begins each of the 13 Pauline epistles, Romans to Philemon). No Divine wrath or Divine war has been declared on our world—yet. Mockers and skeptics have been granted a season of leniency, during which period they are free to spitefully wag their finger in God’s face and speak against Him without repercussion. “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily [quickly, swiftly], therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11).

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming [to judge and punish]? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation…. [Peter replies to them] The Lord is not slack [lazy, inattentive] concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance…. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;…” (2 Peter 3:3,4,9,15).

“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:…” (Romans 2:4-6). May we not despise (hate, think lowly of) the riches of God’s goodness, forbearance, and lllllooooonnnnngggggsuffering….

I Just Wanted to Get Away! #7

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10 KJV).

Will sinners “get away” from accountability before God?

Keep reading chapter 2 of Romans: “[11] For there is no respect of persons with God. [12] For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; [13] (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. [14] For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: [15] Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; ) [16] In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”

Whether a sinning Jew or a sinning Gentile, one falling short of His glory, God does not play favorites. Neither one will escape His justice that enforces His offended righteousness. In time past, the Law of Moses was given to the nation Israel, not the Gentiles. Lost Israelites will be judged according to that Law at the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15. The Gentiles had conscience, an internal system of standards and norms that gave them some sense of right and wrong. God will judge lost Gentiles according to this when they face Him at the Great White Throne Judgment.

In Romans 2:16, Paul announces how God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to his (that is, Paul’s) Gospel. No matter what they did or believed in religious or philosophical circles, it did not have the spiritual value of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for their sins. Since they failed to believe the words of God to them (whenever they lived on Earth), God’s righteousness was not imputed to them by personal faith, which is what led to the doom and sentencing they now face in Revelation chapter 20….

I Just Wanted to Get Away! #6

Monday, September 15, 2025

“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10 KJV).

Will sinners “get away” from accountability before God?

“Busy in ministry” in early Acts, Saul of Tarsus was a Hell-bound, self-righteous Jew, obsessed with his own “goodness.” Filled with religious pride, he nonetheless finally gave up his “dung” and “filthy rags,” and came to faith in Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour (check Philippians 3:1-9). Through his subsequent years as an Apostle, Paul encountered many other such lost Jews in synagogues in the Roman Empire (Acts chapters 9–28). These were the very Christ-rejecting Jews about which he wrote in Romans chapter 2 (the same sinful Jews who looked down upon the “sinful” Gentiles of chapter 1).

Romans chapter 2: “[1] Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. [2] But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. [3] And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? [4] Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? [5] But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; [6] Who will render to every man according to his deeds: [7] To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: [8] But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, [9] Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;….”

Try as hard as they might, the Bible thunders how no one without the righteousness of God will “get away” from the righteous judgment of God….

I Will Love Them Freely #7

Sunday, June 8, 2025

“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him” (Hosea 14:4 KJV).

Behold, the LORD God’s free love for the nation Israel!

In spite of Israel’s unbelief and idolatry throughout the millennia, the LORD God who was treated so unfairly and disrespectfully still seeks the nation’s best interests (what genuine love is). Justice must be carried out first though. Once Israel’s sin problem is fully dealt with in judgment, then God’s goodness and unconditional love can be fully displayed. Man’s “goodness” got him nowhere spiritually, and Israel had to learn it. As today’s Scripture explains, God can and will love Israel “freely” because He wants to do it, not because He has to or because Israel inherently deserves it! “Freely” in today’s Scripture is “nadabah” in Hebrew, usually rendered “freewill offering” in the King James Bible (Leviticus 22:18,21,23; Leviticus 23:38; Numbers 15:3; Numbers 29:39; Deuteronomy 12:6,17; et cetera). Occasionally, it was translated “willingly” (2 Chronicles 35:8; Ezra 3:5).

Of course, when Hosea ministered, Calvary’s cross was over 700 years into the future, yet the Holy Spirit knew what was coming. Now that Christ’s work on the cross of Calvary has been accomplished, we can see what God’s love really means—its abundance and its “no cost” to us sinners. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)…” (Ephesians 2:4,5). “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;…” (Ephesians 5:25). “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16). “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

The best way we can express gratitude to God for His love toward us, is to trust the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.

Saints, please remember this work of the ministry requires monthly financial support to operate (Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:16-17; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Those who prefer electronic giving can donate securely here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux. Anyone who wishes to donate by regular mail can visit https://333wordsofgrace.org/contact-us-mailing-address-for-donations/ for details. Thanks to all who give to and pray for us! Unfortunately, since our ministry audience is so large and our ministry staff is so small, I can no longer personally respond to everyone. Thanks so much for understanding in this regard. 🙂

I Will Love Them Freely #6

Saturday, June 7, 2025

“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him” (Hosea 14:4 KJV).

Behold, the LORD God’s free love for the nation Israel!

The last verse of Hosea chapter 14—yea, of the entire Book—is: “Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein” (Hosea 14:9). What JEHOVAH God says and does is right and good. Anyone reading His words of prophecy here is either a believer or an unbeliever, someone of understanding and knowledge or someone of confusion and ignorance. They can either take Him at His Word and turn to Him in faith (walking in righteousness), or neglect Him and continue in their sin (falling in unrighteousness). It is their choice!

“Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land…. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children…. And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD. Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. My people ask counsel at their stocks [idols], and their staff [idols] declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God” (Hosea 4:1,6,9-12).

“They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD. And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them” (Hosea 5:4,5).

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

I Will Love Them Freely #5

Friday, June 6, 2025

“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him” (Hosea 14:4 KJV).

Behold, the LORD God’s free love for the nation Israel!

Earlier in Hosea (4:17), “Ephraim is joined to idols”—and God wanted that Northern Kingdom to be left alone in that pagan idolatry they desired. They would soon face judgment under the Assyrian Captivity (as in 2 Kings 17:1-23). As Hosea’s Book draws to a close now, however, Ephraim has a believing remnant (especially in the ages to come) confessing and forsaking that foolish sin of idolatry of their forefathers. Hosea 14:8 reads: “Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.” “Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God” (Ezekiel 37:23).

“And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi [husband]; and shalt call me no more Baali [my lord]. For I will take away the names of Baalim [idols] out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name” (Hosea 2:16,17). Ephraim’s idols could not hear, for they were dead and deaf, but the living LORD has heard and saved Ephraim (cf. Psalm 115:1-11). The evergreen fir tree (Hosea 14:8) symbolizes that living LORD as the answer to Israel’s spiritual and functional death. Again, Israel is seen prospering in God’s literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic kingdom. Israel’s model prayer is thus, Matthew 6:9-13: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

We reach the final verse of Hosea now….

I Will Love Them Freely #4

Thursday, June 5, 2025

“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him” (Hosea 14:4 KJV).

Behold, the LORD God’s free love for the nation Israel!

JEHOVAH God continues talking in verse 5: “I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.” The imagery is figurative, of course, but a literal truth is nevertheless conveyed. Heathen idolatry rendered the nation Israel spiritually dead and functionally dead, separated from the Creator’s life and totally unable to accomplish His will in the Earth. With New Covenant blessings (as in Jeremiah 31:31-34 or Ezekiel 36:25-38), Israel thrives, matures, and blossoms like a plant receiving sufficient rainfall, sunlight, and nutrients. Observe the reference to the cedars of “Lebanon”—the most prized Middle Eastern trees!

Psalm 1:1-3 is such a saint who belongs to that Jewish believing remnant: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Now, Hosea 14:6: “His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.” Israel is as a strong, massive tree—deriving life from the LORD God and His words of life. The ugliness of sin has given way to the attractiveness of righteousness. Enjoying access to God means the nation Israel now emits a wonderful or pleasant odor to the LORD, as the cedars of “Lebanon!”

Consider verse 7: “They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.” This “shadow” is protection with Israel (as in Song of Solomon 2:3 or Ezekiel 31:6). The “vine” is national Israel in the LORD, able to bear spiritual fruit (John 15:1-8; cf. Isaiah 5:1-7; Hosea 10:1) for all the nations to be blessed (Zechariah 8:20-23)….

I Will Love Them Freely #3

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him” (Hosea 14:4 KJV).

Behold, the LORD God’s free love for the nation Israel!

Israel’s believing remnant is in verses 1-3. God replies to their confession with the “mercy” or compassion of today’s Scripture: “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” “Backsliding” is a retreat, turning away or turning back, apostatizing. Israel moved away from the LORD and went back to sin (idols).

“The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot…. Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever…. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:…” (Jeremiah 3:6,12,14,22).

“For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place” (Hosea 4:16). “And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him” (Hosea 11:7). In today’s Scripture, the LORD promises to “heal” this backsliding, bring it to an end. He also affirms He will “love them freely,” willingly and plentifully. They have been rotten sinners—unlovely, unloving, hateful people who worshipped and served idols in place of the one true God who delivered them from Egyptian bondage.

In today’s Scripture, His anger toward Israel is now turned away, the curses of the Law (punishments for disobedience) have now been brought to pass. “In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer” (Isaiah 54:8). Now, as Hosea sees it, come Kingdom blessings….

I Will Love Them Freely #2

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him” (Hosea 14:4 KJV).

Behold, the LORD God’s free love for the nation Israel!

Start at verse 1: “O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.” This appeal to “return unto the LORD” loops back to the opening of the Book: “The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD” (Hosea 1:2). “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;…” (Isaiah 53:6). Having departed from JEHOVAH God to worship and serve idols, committing a most iniquitous (“not right”) deed, Israel is now exhorted to return to Him (Hosea 14:1).

Verse 2 now: “Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.” Here is the formula or pattern of words Israel’s believing remnant is to speak in faith. They confess their sins as per the Law of Moses (Leviticus 26:40), then seek the LORD’S deliverance from those very sins. It is their desire to be in fellowship with God again, that He accept them “graciously” (they do not deserve such favor). Instead of animal sacrifices, they offer the words of their lips! “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:15,16).

Going to Hosea 14:3: “Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.” “Asshur” is Assyria, a Gentile nation northeast of the Land of Palestine. Israel sees her help is not in military might or heathen idols, but in “Our Father which art in heaven….”