Hosea 1:2 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.

Why are you here? Are you living for yourself or for God? Are you doing that what He requires of you? Hosea was obedient to that what God required of him. Read his story, it is sad. When God told him to marry Gomer, a prostitute, he obeyed. She became his wife and the mother of his children, however, she refused to change her sinful way of life. Nevertheless, Hosea tried to change her and to bring her back. Why did he subject himself to such a thing which caused him pain again and again? Why did he not give up and separate himself from this bad woman?

The simple answer to this question is that his life did not belong to him alone. Just like with us, he dedicated himself completely to God.

Paul said, "You do not belong to yourself... you have been bought with a great price." (1. Corinthians 6:19-20) Hosea knew that God had called him to be a living metaphor of God's love- and he obeyed without taking into consideration the price he would have to pay. The moral of the story is: Love people at all costs, even when it may hurt. God did the same for us. bmc

Additional scriptures for further study: 1. Corinthians 6:19-20; John 3:16, Luke 6:35; Matthew 5:44; Romans 14:7