DRAW NEARER

I’ve had sinus infections before but this one was the worst ever. I started on a Friday with the usual signs of a sinus issue so I sprang into gear with the usual measures to lessen its impact—which in the past proved successful. However, when Monday rolled around it was overcoming all of my efforts to defeat its countermeasures. That night was unlike any I have experienced. No sleep lots of hacking up awful yellow stuff then uncontrollable breathing and vomiting this stuff was even coming out of my eyes! Tuesday morning I couldn’t take it any more so my wife drove me to the doctor—where I should have gone in the first place. Why do we not do what we know we should do in the first place? Why are we not drawn to seek out the only help for our condition? It wasn’t until Monday night after I tried everything while tossing about in such pain and misery did I cry out, “Lord help me!”

In a similar way we are slow to respond to the Lord’s gentle urges. Instead of running to him we run backwards as he draws us with the cords of love. “I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke” (Hosea 11:4)
The Lord is always pulling us so that we would exercise simple faith in Him. Sometimes we get so busy playing the role of the godly servant that we fail to leave our worldly attentions in His hands. “I got this!” is our mind set. This kind of skimpy faith leans-out our souls. While is worthwhile to have a lean body it is counterproductive to our souls—they need bulking-up. The Lord has promised good to and for us, all we need to do is go to the Great Physician (and we don’t) and open our mouths wide and say…”I trust you Lord.” Shame on us and our cold sick hearts for not having the fullest confidence in Him with everything we face. Shame is on us for not immediately casting our cares on the One who cares for us.
Since He leads us with cords of kindness it should be understood that He wants us nearer His will. If we won’t respond to the gentle pulls of His love, He will send affliction to drive us into a closer intimacy with Himself.
What foolish children we are to be so slow in responding to those bands of love. Right now, begin to draw nearer and trust Him more.

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