
What is spiritual formation? We’ve been introduced to this phrase over the past couple of weeks. For our purposes and vision at White Oak, spiritual formation is the process of being formed into the image of Christ… for the sake of others.
In order to be formed spiritually we have to put ourselves at Jesus’s feet to learn from him in order to be like him and do what he did. The work of being formed is done by Jesus. The posture we take before him is our decision of rhythms and habits which offers us up to that work.
The question for each of us is this: Will you answer the call of Jesus to apprentice under him?
When we look at how God formed and shaped the lives of those in Scripture, we can glean from that how God might want to speak to our hearts and form us as well. Keep in mind that God is a living and active Person. His Word is constantly moving and breathing new life into Creation. Though God isn’t often in the habit of doing the same thing twice or moving in predictable ways, he is consistent in his faithfulness and love, forming us into the image of his Son. I’d like to take a look at the life of Hosea from the Bible.
When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” -Hosea 1:2
Hosea lived in the northern kingdom of Israel about 200 years after it broke off from southern Judah. He was called to speak on God’s behalf to the people of Israel during the reign of one of Israel’s worst kings, Jeroboam II. This king led the nation into chaos from which it never recovered. In the year 722 BC, the big bad Assyrian empire would swoop in to destroy Israel, and Hosea had seen it all coming. (The Bible Project)
Hosea wrote this book to remind the Israelites—and us—that ours is a loving God whose loyalty to His covenant people is unwavering. In spite of Israel’s continual turning to false gods, God’s steadfast love is portrayed in the long-suffering husband of the unfaithful wife. Hosea’s message is also one of warning to those who would turn their backs on God’s love. Through the symbolic presentation of the marriage of Hosea and Gomer, God’s love for the idolatrous nation of Israel is displayed in a rich metaphor in the themes of sin, judgment, and forgiving love. (Gotquestions.org).
Hosea’s story isn’t a happy one. Called to marry a woman who will commit adultery. To have children with her with names like “not loved” and “not my people” as reminder of God’s judgement against Israel. Asked by God to continue to pursue Gomer even though she was unfaithful many times. This leads me to wonder: What formative work was God desiring for Hosea? From what I see God was doing a few of things.
· Perhaps Hosea needed reminded of God’s great longing for and love of his people.
· Perhaps Hosea needed reminded of the great pain caused to God’s heart by sin. Our sin is rebellion, and it has consequences.
· Maybe Hosea needed to know that God calls those who love him to persistent obedience even when we don’t understand.
· God wanted Hosea’s heart to know and understand the great lengths that He is willing to go to in order to win his people back! God would ultimately take the punishment for our rebellion and put it upon Jesus.
If you and I only approach Scripture (or a biblical character) in order to understand the context or lesson, we’ll miss important formative work that the Spirit wants to do in us. Understanding and context is important, but there is so much more! We must take a posture with Scripture which asks God to teach us what he wants us to see and know and do. Consider every vantage point and character in the narrative. Who might you be? (Keep in mind that you and I are rarely the hero in these stories). What about the story challenges your perspective? What do you struggle with as you read? Where do you see Jesus in the text? Let Scripture (and Hosea) challenge you! Let it form you.
Being formed,
Nathan

Nathan Hinkle
Lead Pastor