Hosea 13:5

Posted under Uncategorized on February 26th, 2009 by with no responses 

""I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great
       drought."" 
              — Hosea 13:5

Yes, Lord, thou didst indeed know me in my fallen state, and thou didst
even then choose me for thyself. When I was loathsome and
self-abhorred, thou didst receive me as thy child, and thou didst
satisfy my craving wants. Blessed for ever be thy name for this free,
rich, abounding mercy. Since then, my inward experience has often been
a wilderness; but thou hast owned me still as thy beloved, and poured
streams of love and grace into me to gladden me, and make me fruitful.
Yea, when my outward circumstances have been at the worst, and I have
wandered in a land of drought, thy sweet presence has solaced me. Men
have not known me when scorn has awaited me, but thou hast known my
soul in adversities, for no affliction dims the lustre of thy love.
Most gracious Lord, I magnify thee for all thy faithfulness to me in
trying circumstances, and I deplore that I should at any time have
forgotten thee and been exalted in heart, when I have owed all to thy
gentleness and love. Have mercy upon thy servant in this thing!

My soul, if Jesus thus acknowledged thee in thy low estate, be sure
that thou own both himself and his cause now that thou art in thy
prosperity. Be not lifted up by thy worldly successes so as to be
ashamed of the truth or of the poor church with which thou hast been
associated. Follow Jesus into the wilderness: bear the cross with him
when the heat of persecution grows hot. He owned thee, O my soul, in
thy poverty and shame-never be so treacherous as to be ashamed of him.
O for more shame at the thought of being ashamed of my best Beloved!
Jesus, my soul cleaveth to thee.

""I’ll turn to thee in days of light,
As well as nights of care,
Thou brightest amid all that’s bright!
Thou fairest of the fair!""

On this day...

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