Hosea 11:4

Our heavenly Father often draws us with the cords of love; but alas, how reluctant we are to run towards him! How slowly we respond to his gentle impulses! He draws us to exercise a more simple faith in him; but we have not yet attained Abraham’s confidence. We do not leave our worldly cares with God but, like Martha, burden ourselves with much serving.

Our meager faith brings leanness into our souls; we do not open our mouths wide, though God has promised to fill them. Does he not this evening draw us to trust him? Can we not hear him say, “Come, my child, and trust me. The veil is torn; enter into my presence, and approach boldly the throne of my grace. I am worthy of your fullest confidence; cast your cares on me. Shake yourself from the dust of your cares, and put on your beautiful garments of joy.”

But, alas, though called with tones of love to the blessed exercise of this comforting grace, we will not come. At another time, he draws us to closer communion with himself.

We have been sitting on the doorstep of God’s house, and he invites us to advance into the banqueting hall and dine with him, but we decline the honor. There are secret rooms not yet opened to us; Jesus invites us to enter them, but we hold back. Shame on our cold hearts!

We are merely poor lovers of our sweet Lord Jesus, not fit to be his servants, much less to be his brides, and yet he has exalted us to be bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh, married to him by a glorious marriage covenant. In this is love! But it is love which takes no denial.

If we do not obey the gentle drawings of his love, he will send affliction to drive us into closer intimacy with himself. He will indeed have us nearer. What foolish children we are to refuse those bands of love, and so bring upon ourselves that scourge of small cords, which Jesus knows how to use!