October 26 – God Draws Us by the Silken Bands of Love…

Hope for Today: A Daily Devotion from Reasons for Hope*Jesus

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“Draw me away! We will run after you.” Song of Solomon 1:4

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness, I have drawn you.” Jeremiah 31:3

Many and various are the ways the Almighty takes in bringing His children to Himself and to a knowledge of the things which belong to their peace. Sometimes He draws by the silken bands of love, sometimes by the knotted cords of pain and sickness. Sometimes He urges them by the storm and tempest of His broken law, sometimes, and most effectually, by the display of their Redeemer’s sacrifice.

Reader, pray incessantly that He may make you sensible of the secret tender influence of His mercy. This habit of praying is very needful because we are always in need, and without being instant and earnest we cannot receive much. Therefore it is not a hard command — but a great benefit and privilege; as if God should say, “You are a poor child, always needing something, but you must always pray to Me, and I will always hear and assist and draw you after Me.”

My soul, are you dull, heavy, lifeless? Here is a prayer just suited to you. You can look up to your good and gracious God, and cry, “Draw me.” He who drew you at first will draw you again. O Lord, draw me to the garden, the cross, and the tomb of Jesus; and draw me from self, sin, and the world, to Your ever-blessed self.

O draw me, Savior, after Thee,
So shall I run and never tire;
With gracious words still comfort me
And be my hope and whole desire.

Devotion by Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky (1690—1774)