Daily Encouragementنموونە

What a beautiful picture of God’s attitude towards his people! Our minds run on to the Father in the parable, watching for the prodigal’s return: “While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son . . . ” (Luke 15:20). We remember our Lord himself as he addressed the city of Jerusalem: “How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings” (Luke 13:34).

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious . . . ” - in spite of the attitude of his people. “These are rebellious people” (Isaiah 30:9). Their hope is in man, not in the Lord. They do not want to hear the true word of God: “Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions . . . and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” (verses 10-11). They are deaf to his grace: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, ‘No’” (verses 15-16).

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you . . . ” This is the love which was revealed in its fullness at Calvary: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).