Presence of a Loving God!

God loves His people with a first love! 1 John 4:19, "We love Him because He first loved us."

By nature, we were without God, and afar off from God; we were strangers to God, and enemies to God, yes, haters of God! Therefore, if God had not loved us first, we would have been everlastingly undone! God loves His people with a free love! Hosea 14:4, "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely." 

I know they are backslidden, but I will heal their backslidings. I know there is nothing at all in them, which is excellent or eminent, which is honorable or acceptable, which is laudable or lovely yet "I will love them freely" of My own, free, rich, absolute and sovereign grace! God loves His people with an everlasting love! Jeremiah 31:3, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, with loving-kindness have I drawn you." 

 

That is, "I love you with the love of perpetuity, or with the love of eternity. My love and My affections to you shall continue forever!" God loves His people with an unchangeable love! Malachi 3:6, "I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore, you sons of Jacob are not consumed." Men change, and counsels change, and occurrences change, and friends change, and relations change, and kingdoms change; but God never changes! "He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man, that He should change His mind," 1 Samuel 15:29. 

God is immutable in His nature, in His essence, in His counsels, in His attributes, in His decrees, in His promises, etc. He is Omnina immutabilis, "Altogether immutable!" God loves His people with a special love, with a peculiar love, with a distinguishing love, with a superlative love! God loves His people with the greatest love, with a matchless love! John 3:16, "God so loved." This signifies the greatness of God's love, the vehemence of His love, and the admirableness of His love. What an unspeakable comfort must this be to God's people to have the presence of a loving God, to have the presence of such a loving God with them in all their troubles and deep distresses! 

If the presence of a loving friend, a loving relation in our troubles and distresses, is such a mercy oh, what then is the presence of a loving God!

[Thomas Brooks]

Isaiah 43:4... 4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

✫❤•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫

The Presence of a Loving God!

By nature, we were without God, and afar off from God; we were strangers to God, and enemies to God, yes, haters of God! Therefore, if God had not loved us first, we would have been everlastingly undone! God loves His people with a free love! Hosea 14:4. "I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely." I know they are backslidden, but I will heal their backslidings. 

I know there is nothing at all in them, which is excellent or eminent, which is honorable or acceptable, which is laudable or lovely yet "I will love them freely" of My own, free, rich, absolute and sovereign grace! God loves His people with an everlasting love! Jeremiah 31:3, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, with loving-kindness have I drawn you." That is, "I love you with the love of perpetuity, or with the love of eternity. My love and My affections to you shall continue forever!" 

God loves His people with an unchangeable love! Malachi 3:6, "I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore, you sons of Jacob are not consumed." 

Men change, and counsels change, and occurrences change, and friends change, and relations change, and kingdoms change; but God never changes! "He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man, that He should change His mind," 1 Samuel 15:29. 

God is immutable in His nature, in His essence, in His counsels, in His attributes, in His decrees, in His promises, etc. He is Omnina Immutabilis, "Altogether immutable!" God loves His people with a special love, with a peculiar love, with a distinguishing love, with a superlative love! God loves His people with the greatest love, with a matchless love! John 3:16, "God so loved." This signifies the greatness of God's love, the vehemence of His love, and the admirableness of His love. 

What an unspeakable comfort must this be to God's people to have the presence of a loving God, to have the presence of such a loving God with them in all their troubles and deep distresses! If the presence of a loving friend, a loving relation in our troubles and distresses, is such a mercy oh, what then is the presence of a loving God! 

[Thomas Brooks]

Isaiah 43:4 ...  Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

1 John 4:19 ...  We love him, because he first loved us. ❤

The Constraining Love of Jesus!

The love of Jesus has a constraining power, which invincibly impels us to live unto Him. Let it once be "shed abroad in our hearts," and we shall instantly exclaim with rapture, "My Lord, and my God!" "What have I to do any more with idols?" will be the natural effusion of our souls! (Hosea 14:8)  

We will feel a holy indignation at the thought of having wickedly sinned against Him for so long and shall address Him in the language of His repenting people, "O Lord, our God, other masters besides You have ruled over us, but we will acknowledge and mention Your name alone!" (Isaiah 26:13)  

Walk with God as His dear children. Commit to Him your every care and expect from Him a supply of all your needs! Motivated by His all-constraining love, be ready to sacrifice every earthly consideration, and to even lay down life itself for Him! 

[Charles Simeon] 

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 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ... For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Titus 2:14 ...  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Galatians 2:20 ... I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. ❤

Thorns!

These words are spoken to the backslider; they flow from God's love and indicate painful opposition in the path of spiritual declension. It is a fearful thing to be allowed to choose and pursue our own way without divine obstruction! But if God loves us He will oppose us, when we are found in forbidden paths! He will lay the 'thorns' in our way! He will wound us in order to restore us! 

The wounded child will go home for healing for the sense of pain and danger will humble its proud and haughty spirit. Beloved, when you find 'thorns' in your path, just stop and ask, "Am I in the right road? Is this the true pilgrim's path? Does this way lead to my father's house?" For the 'thorns' are intended to awaken inquiry, produce reflection, and bring to repentance. We often see and feel the thorns, but we do not see the hand that laid them in our path. 

Perhaps we do not dream that it is our heavenly Father but are ready to say, "An enemy has done this!" These thorns are sometimes bodily afflictions, sometimes losses and crosses, and sometimes opposition from worldly men. But whatever may be the nature of the thorns our Father Himself laid them in our path! 

[James Smith]

Hosea 2:6 ... Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.

Psalm 23:3 ... He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. ❤

Your Hearts Have Gone!!

Time has been, when worldly affections seemed to be mortified within you to be dead and buried. Many a sore thrust and wound you had given unto them; and how they bled, and fainted, and grew so weak, that they seemed to be dying and you have thought surely, they would never stir much in you anymore. Then your love to Christ was strong and active, it burned and flamed within you! And O the zeal which you then had for your master's honor! 

But now, your affections to Christ are strangely cooled! If there is the fire of love to Christ still within you it is not fire in burning coals, or in a vehement flame; but it is a fire in a few scattered sparks, which give neither light nor heat, and are hardly, if at all, discernable! Your worldly affections, which seemed to be dead, have gotten life, and vigor, and strength! 

O the eager desire which you now have after the world and the things in the world! Now the world has your thoughts in plans about it; and the world has your tongues in your frequent discourse of it. Now the world has your hand and your time but that which is worst of all, is that the world has your heart too! The world has jostled Christ off His throne! And is it then a wonder, if your Beloved is offended because your hearts have gone a-whoring from Him, unto the world! You have lost your first love to Christ! Now your spiritual joys and comforts are fled out of sight; they are lost and gone! Your worldly delights have expelled and banished your spiritual delights! You're minding and savoring so much the earth and earthly things, has disrelished your spiritual appetite! 

O the mischief which indulged sin has done unto you! O the deep and dangerous wounds which sin has given you! O the defilements of sin in your consciences and the stains and blots which sin has cast upon your profession! O the havoc which sin has made among your graces and among your spiritual comforts! You have still left of an outward profession, but where is your fruit? If you have some fruit, it is withered and sour fruit not such ripe and mellow and sweet fruit, as before in your flourishing estate! Ransack your hearts to find out your sins! 

Humble yourselves deeply! Repent and grieve and mourn! Then plead with Christ: "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly! Make haste O my Beloved! Make haste to my soul that thirsts for You, as the wounded deer thirsts after the cooling and refreshing streams of the water brooks! O When shall I see You again, and feed and feast my soul again with Your love! When, Lord, O when will You come unto me? Will You cast me off forever? Shall this curtain always be drawn before Your face? "Truly, Lord, I have grievously sinned, and greatly offended You; but do I not truly repent? Is there anything in the world so grievous unto me, as the remembrance of my sins against You? I acknowledge my offense, my folly, and horrid ingratitude! 

Shall my sins be always a wall of separation between me and my Beloved? Are not Your mercies plentiful? Is there not forgiveness with You, that You may be feared and the more dearly beloved? Do You not forgive freely, without upbraiding? Have You not promised to be found by all those who diligently seek You? And did You ever fail in Your Word unto any? And shall I be the first! I am grieved for my sin, and ashamed of my folly! "Have You not promised to manifest Yourself unto those who love You? And do not I love You? You know all things; you know that I love You! Though my love is imperfect, yet it is true! Though it is weak, yet it is sincere! 

Hasten, my Beloved! O hasten unto me! And be as a deer upon the mountains of spices! Do not veil Your face from me any longer! Do not conceal Your love! O now, draw near, and make me exceeding glad in the beauty of Your face and in Your loving embrace!" Such desires and pleadings as these, might prevail with the Lord to return and say unto you, "My dear child, I have heard your prayers, your desires, and your cries! Your pleadings have prevailed with Me, and I am now come unto you, be it done to you according to your desires! Come child and look up! Here I am! behold Me, behold Me! I assure you that I am yours, and you are Mine, and shall be Mine forever!" 

 [Thomas Vincent] 

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Revelation 2:4-5 ... Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Hosea 14:1-2 ... O israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. ❤

Can Jesus Delight in Such Worms?

Jesus presents Himself unto us as the bridegroom of our souls. He says, "I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord!" (Hosea 2:19-20) He here promises to bring us into the nearest possible union. He becomes one with us. 

He says, "I will be your portion, and you shall be My possession!" (Malachi 3:16-17) He manifests His beauties to attract us; He sends His Spirit to prepare us; He gives His sweet gospel to allure us; He puts forth His power and draws us and then makes Himself over to us in an everlasting covenant. He calls us by every sweet appellation, such as "My beloved, My dove, My sister, My darling, My flawless one, My delight, My spouse!" (Song of Solomon 5:2) 

He gives us His person, His unsearchable riches, and a share in His eternal glories and honors! He loves us most tenderly, constantly, and prudently. He assures us that He will never leave us, that He will come and commune with us, and that He will withhold no good thing from us! He says, "Though the mountains be shaken, and the hills be removed yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor My covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you!" (Isaiah 54:10)

 "No weapon formed against you shall prosper. (Isaiah 54:17) For your Maker is your Husband, the Lord Almighty is His name!" (Isaiah 54:5) "As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you! I will take delight in My people!" (Isaiah 62:5)

What love is here! Can Jesus delight in such worms? Can He rejoice over such unworthy creatures? Can He enter into a marriage contract with such depraved beings? Yes! He loved His Church and gave Himself for it! He has redeemed it unto Himself by His blood, and will everlastingly rejoice over it, to bless it and honor it! 

[James Smith]

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Make Time for God!!

He who cannot find time to study his Bible will one day find he has time to be sick.

He who has no time to pray must find time to die.

He who can find no time to reflect is most likely to find time to sin.

He who cannot find time for repentance will find an eternity in which repentance will be of no avail.

He who cannot find time to work for others may find an eternity in which to suffer for himself.

[Hannah More]

Matthew 6:33 ... But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ...  Pray without ceasing.

Hosea 10:12 ...  Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Mark 1:15 ...  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Colossians 4:5 ... Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

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The Great Day of His Wrath!!

"The great day of His wrath has come and who shall be able to stand!" (Revelation 6:17) 

Who may abide the day of His coming? Who shall stand when He appears? Oh, beloved! this is not the day of man's wrath! Men have had their day of reigning and raging, and despising God but that day is over and gone, and now God's day has come! This is the day of His wrath and woe to wicked, and woe to the whore of Babylon, for the hour of her judgment has come! This will be a day of great ASTONISHMENT to the wicked and ungodly, "The Lord shall smite them with madness and blindness, and astonishment of heart!" (Deuteronomy 28:28) 

 This will be a day of great TERROR to those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus! Therefore, says the apostle, "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men." (2 Corinthians 5:11)  This day of God's wrath will be a day of great DISTRESS to the wicked, "I in turn will laugh at your disaster! I will mock when calamity overtakes you when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you!" (Proverbs 1:26-27)  This day of God's wrath will be a day of great CONTEMPT to the ungodly, "The Lord Almighty has purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth!" (Isaiah 23:9)  This day of God's wrath will be a day of great DESTRUCTION, "The wicked are reserved to the day of destruction; they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath!" (Job 21:30) 

 Oh, beloved! God's GREAT wrath will be very terrible to the wicked! 

1. God's great wrath will tear them in pieces like a lion! "I will be like a lion to Israel, like a strong young lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces! I will carry them off, and no one will be left to rescue them!" (Hosea 5:14.) "Consider this, all you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue you!" (Psalm 50:22)  

2. God's great wrath will consume them like fire! "The Lord Almighty says, The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed, roots, branches, and all." (Malachi 4:1)  

3. God's great wrath will swallow up all His enemies! "You will capture all your enemies. Your strong right hand will seize all who hate You. You will throw them in a fiery furnace when You appear. In His wrath the Lord will swallow them up, and His fire will consume them!" (Psalm 21:8-9)

 Oh! the wrath of the Almighty is called in the Scripture: "The fierceness of His great wrath!" (2 Kings 23:26)   "The fierceness of His anger, wrath, and indignation!" (Psalm 78:49)   "The fury of His wrath!" (Revelation 16:19)

 [Willian Dyer]

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God's Love!!

God loves His people with a first love! (1 John 4:19,) "We love Him because He first loved us." By nature we were without God, and afar off from God; we were strangers to God, and enemies to God, yes, haters of God! Therefore if God had not loved us first we would have been everlastingly undone! God loves His people with a free love! (Hosea 14:4,) "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely."

I know they are backslidden but I will heal their backslidings. I know there is nothing at all in them, which is excellent or eminent, which is honorable or acceptable, which is laudable or lovely yet "I will love them freely" of My own, free, rich, absolute and sovereign grace! God loves His people with an everlasting love! (Jeremiah 31:3,) "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, with loving-kindness have I drawn you."

That is, "I love you with the love of perpetuity, or with the love of eternity. My love and My affections to you shall continue forever!"  God loves His people with an unchangeable love! (Malachi 3:6,) "I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed."

Men change, and counsels change, and occurrences change, and friends change, and relations change, and kingdoms change; but God never changes! "He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man, that He should change His mind," (1 Samuel 15:29.)

God is immutable in His nature, in His essence, in His counsels, in His attributes, in His decrees, in His promises, etc. He is Omnina immutabilis, "Altogether immutable!"

God loves His people with a special love, with a peculiar love, with a distinguishing love, with a superlative love!

God loves His people with the greatest love, with a matchless love! (John 3:16,) "God so loved." This signifies the greatness of God's love, the vehemence of His love, and the admirableness of His love.

What an unspeakable comfort must this be to God's people to have the presence of a loving God, to have the presence of such a loving God with them in all their troubles and deep distresses! If the presence of a loving friend, a loving relation in our troubles and distresses, is such a mercy, oh, what then is the presence of a loving God!

[Thomas Brooks]

Isaiah 43:4 … Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.❤

A Lion in Town

Last week we had a lion in town. I went to see him. He was astonishingly tame as friendly with his keeper, and as docile and obedient as a pet dog. Yet the man told me he had his surly fits, when they dared not go near him.

No looking-glass could show my face more justly than this lion shows my heart! I could trace every feature as wild and fierce by nature; yes, much more so but grace has in some measure tamed me.

I know and love my Keeper, and sometimes watch His looks that I may learn His will. But, oh! I have my surly fits too! Seasons when I relapse into the savage again, as though I had forgotten all.

[John Newton]

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Jeremiah 3:22 ... Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God.


Jeremiah 14:7 ... O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.


Hosea 14:4 ... I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.❤

A Tragic Repetition

Oh what earthly-mindedness, what indulging of the flesh, what sinful extravagance are now seen among professing Christians today!

How practical godliness has waned; how the denying of self has disappeared; how covetousness, pleasure and worldliness now possess the great majority of those calling themselves the people of God.

Yet as great as the sin of the people is far greater is that of most of the preachers, who, instead of warning, admonishing, rebuking, and setting before their people an example of sobriety and contentment criminally remain silent upon the crying sins of their hearers, while they themselves encourage the reckless indulgence of worldly lusts.

[A. W. Pink]

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Hosea 8:4  ... They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

Galatians 5:19-21 ... Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Matthew 6:24 ... No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.❤

When His Beauty is Seen

O what a Savior is Jesus Christ! He is the chief among ten thousand! Look at His sinless, yet real humanity without a single taint, yet sympathizing with us in all our various conditions; our afflictions, our temptations, our infirmities, our griefs. Now that He is in glory, He is still cherishing a brother's heart bending down His ear to our petitions ever standing near to catch our sighs, to dry our tears, to provide for our needs, to guide us by His counsel, and afterwards to receive us to glory!

O what a Savior is Jesus Christ! When He is known, all other beings are eclipsed. When His beauty is seen, all other beauty fades. When His love is felt He becomes supremely enthroned in the affections. To know Him more, becomes the one desire of the renewed mind; and to make Him more known, is the one aim of the Christian life. O what a Savior is Jesus Christ!

[Octavius Winslow]

Song of Solomon 5:16 ... His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

Hosea 14:6 ... And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Ephesians 3:19 ... And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.❤

If God is Our Father

To have God for our Father, is the greatest honor conceivable and it is an infinite source of comfort and joy!

If God is our Father; He will love us with a strong and tender love! He may try us and hide His face from us, to correct us for our follies but He will still love us. Nothing shall separate His child from His love, or sever the bond which unites us to Himself.

If God is our Father; He will bear with our numerous and painful infirmities. Because we are His children. He will put the best construction upon everything. For, "Like as a Father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who love Him. He knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust." He will accept our imperfect services, because we are but children. He knows our weakness, ignorance, and failings; and He also knows our desire to please Him. And when we can only desire. He accepts the will for the deed.

If God is our Father; He will provide for and take care of us--making provision for us on earth, while He reserves our portion for Heaven. Will an earthly father leave his child to lack while he has plenty, and can supply him with the greatest ease? He will not! Neither will our Heavenly Father; but He will supply all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus!

If God is our Father; He will also protect us from all evils spiritual and temporal. Sin shall not have dominion over us, Satan shall not overcome us, the world shall not destroy us for God will protect us! He will keep us by His power, through faith unto salvation.

If God is our Father; He will reveal His mind and will to us for our comfort and salvation. He may hide the mysteries of the kingdom from the wise and prudent but He will reveal them unto His babes. He will send the Comforter, even the Spirit of truth, who will guide us into all truth.

If God is our Father; He will give us freedom of access into His presence with confidence so that we may carry all our sins, sorrows, troubles, and temptations to Him, and lay them at His feet; feeling that we have to do with a Father, one who loves us, pities us, and delights to bless us!

If God is our Father; He will make all things work together for our good. Good things such as mercies, blessings, and comforts. Bad things such as sickness, poverty, reproach, persecution, bereavements, death.  ALL shall work our good, and issue in our eternal welfare.

If we are children of God; we are heirs of every promise in His Book, and joint-heirs with Jesus Himself! He will give us a Father's blessing a blessing worthy of His greatness, majesty, and glory. And He will keep us safe in every danger, and from every foe; so that we shall never perish but possess and enjoy eternal life.

[J. C. Ryle]

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Ephesians 1:11 ... In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

2 Corinthians 6:18 ... And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Hosea 1:10 ... Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.


Romans 8:28 ... And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.❤

God's Love Tokens

A gracious soul secretly concludes: As stars shine brightest in the night so God will make my soul shine and glisten like gold, while I am in this furnace and when I come out of the furnace of affliction.

Surely, as the tasting of honey opened Jonathan's eyes so this cross, this affliction, shall open my eyes. By this stroke, I shall come to have a clearer sight of my sins, and of myself, and a fuller sight of my God!

Surely this affliction shall proceed in the purging away of my dross!

As surely as plowing the ground kills the weeds, and harrowing breaks hard clods so these afflictions shall kill my sins, and soften my heart!

As surely as the plaster draws out the infectious core so the afflictions which are upon me shall draw out the infectious core of pride, the infectious core of self-love, the infectious core of envy, the infectious core of earthliness, the infectious core of formality, the infectious core of hypocrisy! 

Surely by these afflictions, the Lord will crucify my heart more and more to the world and the world to my heart!

Surely by these afflictions, the Lord will keep pride from my soul!

Surely these afflictions are but the Lord's pruning-knives, by which he will bleed my sins, and prune my heart, and make it more fertile and fruitful. They are the means by which He will rid me of those spiritual diseases and maladies, which are most deadly and dangerous to my soul!

Affliction is such a potion, as will carry away all soul-diseases, better than all other remedies!

Surely by these afflictions, I shall be made more a partaker of God's holiness!

As black soap makes white clothes so does sharp afflictions make holy hearts.

Surely by these, God will communicate more of Himself unto me!

Surely by these afflictions, the Lord will draw out my heart more and more to seek Him!  In times of affliction, Christians will industriously, speedily, early seek unto the Lord.

Surely by these trials and troubles, the Lord will fix my soul more than ever upon the great concernments of the eternal world!

Surely by these afflictions, the Lord will work in me more tenderness and compassion towards those who are afflicted!

Surely these afflictions are but God's love-tokens!   So says the holy Christian, "O my soul! be quiet, be still all is sent in love, all is a fruit of divine favor."

Afflictions abase the carnal attractions of the world, which might entice us.

Affliction abates the lustiness of the flesh within, which might else ensnare us!

By all of the above, affliction proves to be a mighty advantage unto us.

[Thomas Brooks]

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Psalm 119:71 ... It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

Job 23:10 ... But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Hosea 5:15 ... I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

Revelation 3:19 ... As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.❤

Oh! My Precious Ishi

Oh! my precious Ishi, I am Your Hephzibah, made for You alone. Vile as I feel, You see it not but view me in Your own beauty all lovely, and without spot or fault.

You are my joy and crown, my holiness and happiness, my heaven and my all. I drink the spiced wine of Your love, and taste the river of Your pleasures!

[Ruth Byron]

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Hosea 2:16 ... And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.


Song of Solomon 5:16 ... His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.


Isaiah 62:4 ... Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.❤

The Alluring

The eye and the heart of God, are upon his people before they know it, and when they little think of it. He loves them with an everlasting love therefore, he will draw, or allure them. He will draw them from their carnal pleasures, vain pursuits, and wordily company.

He will secretly persuade them by a divine operation upon their minds; or by disappointments, vexations, convictions, distress of soul, and bereavements; or by discoveries of his glorious grace, the blessedness of his people, or the felicity of Heaven to leave the pleasures and pursuits that are carnal and seek for himself, and spiritual things. He will entice her, or draw her, by the revelation, and exhibition, of Jesus in his glory, beauty, and exact adaptation to her.

Not an uninhabited spot but what is elsewhere called "the wilderness of the people." So, that though surrounded by society, the soul feels alone, it has an inward persuasion, that it is an isolated being. The allured soul feels that no one is like it no one ever had such feelings, such fears, such corruptions, such temptations, such doubts.

The believer, like a person in a wilderness, has a painful sense of barrenness. Beneath, there is no green and pleasant verdure but scorching sands; above, no shower bearing clouds but a burning sky. All is barren, and tends to barrenness. So the soul finds it the means of grace are barren; prayer, preaching, and conversation, all are barren. Even the Bible appears to be a barren book.

So the man feels exposed to danger, danger from Satan, sin, the world, and death. Danger from the law, and danger even from Christian friends.  There is also a painful sense of destitution, and the man becomes wearied, bewildered, and exhausted.

This wilderness is a place of instruction, here the soul learns many a painful but important lesson. Here it learns dependence on God, the emptiness and insufficiency of the creature, and the need of a divine agency to carry on the work.

He speaks a divorce from all creatures that we may enjoy union to, and find happiness in himself alone. He calls us away from centering in self to fix our faith and affections on himself.  He speaks, so as to prevail with us to leave all others, and give ourselves up to be ruled by his will, to feed at his table, and to be satisfied with his goodness.

He speaks comfort, and speaks comfortably to us. By a Barnabas, or by the Comforter he speaks, and, brings home a word of promise to the heart. This encourages faith, emboldens hope, and persuades the soul to close in with Christ. Or some sweet word flows into the mind, assuring us that he has pardoned our sins, will take us as his own, will guide us by his counsel, and afterwards receive us to glory.

Reader, has the Lord ever allured you, and drawn you away into a wilderness, revealing himself to you? Has he ever spoken to your heart, words of peace and love? Jesus spoke to the heart of the poor woman, when he said, "Your sins, which are many, are all forgiven," and to the poor man, when he said, "Your faith has saved you, go in peace." Such pleasant words are as a honeycomb sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. Such good words will make the heart glad.

We must be weaned from the world, from the creatures, and be brought into secret, heart-affecting, soul transforming communion with God. We must therefore find the world a wilderness, a desert, a land of drought. We must turn from man to God, and in God as revealed in Jesus, find a friend that loves at all times, and be able to say, with the apostle, "Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."

Gracious God, let us often experience your alluring influence, let us often find ourselves alone with you, let us in every trouble look unto the door of hope, let us often sing of your delivering mercy and grace and let us realize that we are one with you, and that you are one with us, so that in all our approaches to you, and dealings with you, we may exercise love, confidence, and joy!

[James Smith]

Hosea 2:14 ... Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.

Jeremiah 31:3 ... The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.


1 John 1:3 ... That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

John 6:44 ... No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.❤

God Jewels!

However the children of God may be despised by the carnally-minded yet they are beloved of the Lord. The appellations by which He addresses them, through the inspired writers, strikingly express His infinite affection.

They are called    His redeemed people,  the flock under His care,  His beloved children, His special possession,  a holy nation, a royal priesthood,  the chosen, and the elect, etc.

To represent their honor and blessedness, the Spirit of God has employed the choicest imagery furnished by the heavens above, the earth beneath, and by things under the earth.

The sun indicates their progressive splendor unto the perfect day.  The stars, or innumerable suns, indicate the brilliancy with which they shall shine when mortality shall be swallowed up in eternal life!

The flowers in their beauty and fragrance, indicate their moral excellence and beauty.The fruits of the trees, the grain of the field, and rain, and springs, and streams, and rivers of water denote their fruitfulness and utility in the world. 

And the very foundations of the earth, furnish imagery to represent their present and future worth and glory.

[William Nicholson]

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Malachi 3:17 ... And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Hosea 14:5-7 ...  I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.  His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

1 Peter 2:9 ... But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;❤

The Magnetic Power of His Love

The day of conversion is termed the "day of espousals" in Song of Solomon 3:11. It is the day in which Jesus, our Heavenly Bridegroom, wins the heart of His bride. He reveals His love to her,  shows His beauties to her,   tells her of His sufferings for her sake. 

He woos her by His sighs and tears and agonies, and lays siege to her heart on every side while His lips drop honey-words of loving affection. Unable to resist such heavenly importunity, she finds her prejudices melting fast away. One barrier after another is broken down, and at last, allured by the magnetic power of His love, she gives herself to Him, and with tears of joy exclaims, "My Beloved is mine and I am His!"

Oh, happy day, when the soul is espoused to Christ. All Heaven looks on and rings a marriage peal, while the sweetest music fills the new-born heart!

[Archibald Brown]

Song of Solomon 3:11 ... Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

Song of Solomon 2:16 ... My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

Hosea 2:19 ... And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.

Jeremiah 31:3 ... The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.❤