By Todd Barrier 

This past Sunday in our evening Bible class, we began a study on the minor prophets. First up was a lesson on Hosea.  

In the book of Hosea, the Israelites are far gone. They have strayed from God and taken on foreign gods and customs.  

God compares them to an adulteress wife. He says that due to their continued unfaithfulness, they are no longer His children.  

How did they get in the position to lose their relationship with the Father and lose His protection?  

It’s the same trap we can fall into today. They became enamored with the world over God.  

The Bible tells us to be careful about being worldly over godly. In Romans 12:2 the Bible says, “And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” 

God reminds us here that we can fall into the same trap as the Israelites if we become more like the world and less like the church. When we do that, we can lose the wonderful relationship we have with God.  

What have you conformed to – God’s way or the world’s way?