In Hosea 11 and 12 God laments the failed relationship with His people. He recalls His history with them and the love He showed them. But they have turned away. Even though He is angry, God cannot totally destroy them because of His love for His people. He is ready to return them to their land and faith whenever they come home.

Revelation 3 continues the letters to the churches.

The church in Sardis appears to be alive but it is spiritually dead. They need to strengthen what faith remains and stop just going through the motions of being church. Just as faith without works is dead, so too, works without faith is dead.

The church in Philadelphia is not very powerful but has endured in faith even when outsiders have tried to destroy it. Jesus will see to it that it survives.

The church in Laodicea thinks it is successful. Jesus is angry with this church because it is lukewarm in its faith and works. It is doing nothing, because it thinks it is okay the way it is.

Jesus does not want us to be satisfied with where we are. We always need His power and love. We always need to be starting something new and getting excited about sharing faith with others. We always need to be reaching out and helping others. Jesus is always here ready to come in and stir things up making us alive again.