Our one-year old Labrador Retriever loves to lick everybody. If you have some leftover food on your hands, she will lick it off. If you fell and scratched your knee, she will come and lick your wound. I’m not a fan of dog slobber, but you can’t deny her love. Making bad choices can lead to some internal wounds. Instead of sitting around licking your wounds, go to Jesus and let Him heal you.
Hosea 6:1
“Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.”
Sold Themselves
Israel was pretty abused and beat up after it’s idolatrous relationships with other nations. God likened them to a mistreated prostitute that had been cast aside. I know that sounds harsh and uncaring, but God was describing Israel’s idolatry. They had sold themselves like harlots to other nations, and this was the result. God had tried to prevent them from doing it and was there to receive them back. Sometimes you can’t do anything to prevent someone from making bad choices. Fortunately, they saw the errors of their ways and decided the best thing to do was return to the Lord.
Hitting Rock Bottom
People always talk about hitting rock bottom, and after twenty-seven years of counseling, I am convinced it is a myth. Just when you think someone has hit bottom, they will plumb new depths. The only thing that will change their heart is realizing that while they’re licking their wounds, they remember to return to the Lord. Israel remembered several times, but most were false starts. Only when a person realizes healing can only come from the Lord that things begin to change.
Licking Your Wounds
If you’re licking your wounds from some bad choices, God wants you to know that you come to Him and be healing. Forsake everything else because God won’t compete with other idols in your life, then come in humility seeking forgiveness. You will find that you are received with grace from the Lord. Don’t delay the decision. Do it today.