I will love them freely. – Hos 14:4
This sentence is a body of divinity in miniature. The one who understands its meaning, is a theologian; and the one who can dive into its fullness, is a true spiritual master. It is a summary of the glorious message of salvation, which was delivered to us in Christ Jesus our Redeemer.
The meaning hinges upon the word “freely.”
This is the glorious, the suitable, the divine way in which love streams from heaven to earth—a spontaneous love flowing to those who neither deserved it, purchased it, nor sought after it. It is, the only way that God can love us.
The text is a death-blow to all sorts of fitness, “I will love them freely.” Now, if there were any fitness necessary in us—then He would not love us freely, at least, this would be a mitigation and a drawback to the freeness of it. But it stands, “I will love you freely.”
We complain, “Lord, my heart is so hard.” “I will love you freely.”
“But I do not feel my need of Christ as I desire.” “I will not love you because you feel your need—I will love you freely.”
“But I do not feel that softening of spirit that I desire.” Remember, the softening of spirit is not a condition, because there are no conditions; the covenant of grace has no conditionality whatsoever; so that we without any fitness may venture upon the promise of God which was made to us in Christ Jesus, when He said, “He who believes in Him is not condemned.”
It is blessed to know that the grace of God is free to us at all times, without preparation, without fitness, without money, and without price!
“I will love them freely.”
These words invite backsliders to return—indeed, the text was specially written for such, “I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely.”
Backslider! surely the generosity of the promise will immediately break your heart, and you will return, and seek your injured Father’s face!
He will love you freely!!!
