#soap # Hosea 10 ## Title: Why Are We Blessed? ## Scripture: (Hosea 10:1) “Israel was a fertile vine that yielded fruit. As his fruit multiplied, he multiplied altars to Baal. As his land prospered, they adorned the fertility pillars.” (NET) ## Observation: I love giving my kids things and blessing their lives. However, I also have given them things so they can give them away to others. The goal of doing this is so they can learn the joy of being a blessing. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive. However, if I give them something and they only keep it for themselves, they have missed the point and correction is on the way. I think God is like this, too. God desires to bless us with good things. Some things are for our enjoyment and others are for our increased enjoyment because we used these resources to bless others. The goal of being blessed is so that we can be a blessing. In today’s passage, God’s Word is speaking against Israel using their prosperity only for selfish gain. We must always be careful to use the tools of prosperity to be a blessing and not only to receive. ## Application: How often do you use what you have to bless others? Is this something you need to add as a regular practice in your life? ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for Your many blessings and for offering us the opportunity to be someone else’s miracle.