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The two principles that Hosea called his nation to live by, love and justice, are at the very foundation of God’s character. They are essential to his followers, but they are not easy to keep in balance. Some people are loving to the point that they excuse wrongdoing. Others are just to the extent that they forget love. Love without justice leaves people in their sins because it is not aiming at a higher standard, Justice without love drives people away from God because it has no heart. To specialize in one at the expense of the other is to distort our witness. Today’s church, just like Hosea’s nation, must live by both principles.--- Life Application Study Bible notes