Bands of Love

 It is so touching to see a young mother or father gently helping their child to learn and grow. At times, they have to reign them in from getting hurt or going the wrong way, but they do it without causing any harm to their dear child. Then, there is the farmer who is good to his ox as he brings him in from plowing the field with him. He removes his yoke from his neck, and he stoops to feed him. Those two word pictures show us how God deals with us as we are growing in Him. He is not harsh, but gentle.

That is just how God treated His people. (Hosea 11:4) He drew them with gentle cords when they needed direction. He did not yank them around. He used bands of love to hold them close to Him and prevent harm to them. He took off their yoke to give them rest, and He stooped down to feed His people to make them strong. What a picture of our Loving God! Let's see what He has done for us and thank Him today.

Let's think back over our Christian life. How often did we need correction and direction to grow in the Lord, and God drew us in the right direction with bands of love? I know for myself  that I made many of the same mistakes over and over again, but He was not impatient with me. He showed me love, even when I was not responding as I should. Finally, I learned and grew to be more like Jesus, but it took a lot of His loving discipline.

Then, as I starting working for the Lord, serving Him, I would get tired. I would not have the spiritual or physical energy to keep going, but He would take off my yoke, and give me rest for my soul and body. He would stoop down and feed me the milk of His Word, until I grew enough to eat the meat for myself. He did it all for years and years. Now, I know what to do, and I have the strength to do, all because of my Loving Heavenly Father who has been so, so good to me.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Hosea 13-14 and Joel 1.