Hosea 6:3 “Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him.”
We recently had the opportunity to tour the fabulous Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. I couldn’t help but notice the pin our tour guide was wearing: BEAT ARMY. When asked about it, she said, “Beat Army isn’t just a slogan here; it’s a way of life!” The academy even sports a case in the athletic building displaying all the winning footballs gained against their arch rival. Did I say the footballs were painted gold? I have a feeling any plebes coming with a half-hearted mindset toward Army will, after four years, have mastered said “way of life.”
So what about the phrases we commonly use in our Christian walk? Have they become mere slogans or reinforcers of how we live? Phrases like Praise the Lord, I’m praying for you, or God bless you. Such expressions disclose something that should be a part of every believer’s “way of life.” They acknowledge the Lord.
The book of Hosea records one of the most severe charges against Israel: they had stopped acknowledging God. Even though they gave him lip service, the people went about their days as if he didn’t exist. They basically dismissed him from everyday life. They thought as long as they were offering sacrifices, they’d be okay. But failure to truly acknowledge him resulted in love as enduring as the morning dew (Hosea 6:4). Their faithfulness to the Lord evaporated with their affection. Now Hosea says if they begin to acknowledge him again, they will be healed and restored.
So how do we make acknowledgement of God a way of life?
We promptly repent and ask his forgiveness when we sin, whether in the darkness of our thoughts or when we mistreat someone. We thank him for everything from the fresh air we breathe to the sale on salmon at the grocery store. When friends tell us about problems they’re facing, we assure them we’ll be praying for them, whether or not they believe in the power of prayer. We don’t let anything stop us from giving glory to God in what we say, in all we do.
Let’s not live a life of empty slogans, but make acknowledging the Lord a way of life. As we do, we’ll be ready to defeat our arch enemy. We’ll BEAT SATAN!