Common Grace

Scripture Reading: Hosea 2:8

She did not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the wine, and the oil, and who lavished on her silver and gold, which they used for Baal…

The doctrine of common grace teaches that out of the abundance of God’s goodness, He restrains evil and bestows good things on all of humanity at all times. Were it not for common grace, humanity would not survive.

This concept is reflected in this verse in Hosea. God had bestowed upon Judah and Israel grain, wine, oil, silver, and gold. He did so out of grace and without distinction among them. They didn’t recognize that these gifts came from the Lord. In fact, they attributed them to Baal. They honored a false idol for the good gifts from God.

We are all the recipients of common grace. James reminds us that “Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from above, from the Father of lights…” Let us not commit the sin of the Jews of Hosea’s day by attributing these gifts from God to someone or something else. Instead, give thanks to the Lord in all things and for all things.