February 13
He Who Did Most Shall Bear Most
In the Hour of Silence"Behold, the Lord God will come as a mighty one . . . He shall gather the lambs in His arm."—Isaiah 40:10, 11 (R.V.).
THE All-Great is the All-Loving too. From the thunder comes a human voice, which says to me, "O heart I made, a heart beats here." I cannot part with the infinite Majesty, and just as little can I lose sight of the ineffable Tenderness.
He measures the waters in the hollow of His hand; He takes up the isles as a very little thing; all nations before Him are as nothing. Thus He can prevail against my fiercest temptations; He can satisfy my profoundest needs; He can deal with my foulest sins; He can put to flight my most persistent and remorseless enemies; He can perfect that which concerneth me. I rejoice in His mighty power.
Ah, but He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom. His graciousness is deeper, larger, more patient, more victorious than a mother's. Thus His compassions will never fail me. Though I am poor and needy, yet He will think upon me. A bruised reed, a smoking taper am I; but He will not break my frail strength, He will not quench my flickering light. I rejoice in His measureless love.
God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this: that Power belongeth unto God; also unto Thee, O Lord, belongeth Mercy. The Power without the Mercy would crush me to the earth; the Mercy without the Power would stagger and fail when it sought to deliver me; I crave both in harmony and union. And He gives me both. His omnipotence prevails over my impotence, and His gentleness makes me great.
D