Morning “I will love them freely.” / Hosea 14:4

 This sentence is a body of divinity in miniature. He who understands its

meaning is a theologian, and he who can dive into its fulness is a true master

in Israel. It is a condensation of the glorious message of salvation which was

delivered to us in Christ Jesus our Redeemer. The sense hinges upon the word

“freely.” This is the glorious, the suitable, the divine way by which love

streams from heaven to earth, a spontaneous love flowing forth to those who

neither deserved it, purchased it, nor sought after it. It is, indeed, the

only way in which God can love such as we are. The text is a death-blow to all

sorts of fitness: “I will love them freely.” Now, if there were any fitness

necessary in us, then he would not love us freely; at least, this would be a

mitigation and a drawback to the freeness of it. But it stands, “I will love

you freely.” We complain, “Lord, my heart is so hard.” “I will love you

freely.” “But I do not feel my need of Christ as I could wish.” “I will not

love you because you feel your need; I will love you freely.” “But I do not

feel that softening of spirit which I could desire.” Remember, the softening

of spirit is not a condition, for there are no conditions; the covenant of

grace has no conditionality whatever; so that we without any fitness may

venture upon the promise of God which was made to us in Christ Jesus, when he

said, “He that believeth on him is not condemned.” It is blessed to know that

the grace of God is free to us at all times, without preparation, without

fitness, without money, and without price! “I will love them freely.” These

words invite backsliders to return: indeed, the text was specially written for

such–“I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely.” Backslider!

surely the generosity of the promise will at once break your heart, and you

will return, and seek your injured Father’s face.

 

Evening “He shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.” / John 16:15

 There are times when all the promises and doctrines of the Bible are of no

avail, unless a gracious hand shall apply them to us. We are thirsty, but too

faint to crawl to the water-brook. When a soldier is wounded in battle it is

of little use for him to know that there are those at the hospital who can

bind up his wounds, and medicines there to ease all the pains which he now

suffers: what he needs is to be carried thither, and to have the remedies

applied. It is thus with our souls, and to meet this need there is one, even

the Spirit of truth, who takes of the things of Jesus, and applies them to us.

Think not that Christ hath placed his joys on heavenly shelves that we may

climb up to them for ourselves, but he draws near, and sheds his peace abroad

in our hearts. O Christian, if thou art tonight labouring under deep

distresses, thy Father does not give thee promises and then leave thee to draw

them up from the Word like buckets from a well, but the promises he has

written in the Word he will write anew on your heart. He will manifest his

love to you, and by his blessed Spirit, dispel your cares and troubles. Be it

known unto thee, O mourner, that it is God’s prerogative to wipe every tear

from the eye of his people. The good Samaritan did not say, “Here is the wine,

and here is the oil for you;” he actually poured in the oil and the wine. So

Jesus not only gives you the sweet wine of the promise, but holds the golden

chalice to your lips, and pours the life-blood into your mouth. The poor,

sick, way-worn pilgrim is not merely strengthened to walk, but he is borne on

eagles’ wings. Glorious gospel! which provides everything for the helpless,

which draws nigh to us when we cannot reach after it–brings us grace before

we seek for grace! Here is as much glory in the giving as in the gift. Happy

people who have the Holy Ghost to bring Jesus to them.