DAY 179 Read Hosea 10 through 14.
Today's reading: Hosea's prophecy breathes the agony of God's despair in trying to bring Israel to repentance. The Lord yearned for His people's return.
Memory gem: "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from them: (Hosea 14:4).
Thought for today:
Grant Colfax Tullar, the singer and publisher of Christian songs, was left an orphan when as small boy and was farmed out to a man who treated him with utter cruelty. The man had ropes and a pulley fastened to the ceiling of the barn, and he used to draw the boy up by his thumbs until his toes barely touched the ground. Sometimes he would leave him hanging that way for nine hours at a stretch.
The boy swore with a dreadful oath, "If I ever live to be as big as this man, I will bet him to death with my own fists."
When he was twelve, Grant ran away and went down into the depths of sin. But the love of God found him. He became a follower of Christ, who teaches us to love even our enemies.
Later some friends asked Grant to preach. Well, just as they were singing the last verse of the song before the sermon, he looked down and saw right in front of him the man who had abused him when he was a child. He was a young giant now; and he looked at the man, and his wife, who had helped him in his cruelty, suddenly the flood of old resentment overwhelmed him.
Turning to the choir, he said, "Sing another song while I pray." Then he went down on his knees in that old box pulpit where no one but the choir and God could see. And this was his prayer: "Lord, I've promised with an oath to whip that man if I ever lived to be big enough to do it. I believe I could do it today. He needs the whipping; but, Lord, if You will whip him, I will preach to him of Your wondrous love." Then he arose from his knees and began to preach.
Later he made an altar call, and the first to respond were that man and his wife. The young preacher left the pulpit and went down to them. Kneeling between the two, he put an arm around each. There on his knees he led them both to Christ.
Nothing but the love of God could accomplish such a miracle. And that love is drawing you and me and all men today.
Today's reading: Hosea's prophecy breathes the agony of God's despair in trying to bring Israel to repentance. The Lord yearned for His people's return.
Memory gem: "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from them: (Hosea 14:4).
Thought for today:
Grant Colfax Tullar, the singer and publisher of Christian songs, was left an orphan when as small boy and was farmed out to a man who treated him with utter cruelty. The man had ropes and a pulley fastened to the ceiling of the barn, and he used to draw the boy up by his thumbs until his toes barely touched the ground. Sometimes he would leave him hanging that way for nine hours at a stretch.
The boy swore with a dreadful oath, "If I ever live to be as big as this man, I will bet him to death with my own fists."
When he was twelve, Grant ran away and went down into the depths of sin. But the love of God found him. He became a follower of Christ, who teaches us to love even our enemies.
Later some friends asked Grant to preach. Well, just as they were singing the last verse of the song before the sermon, he looked down and saw right in front of him the man who had abused him when he was a child. He was a young giant now; and he looked at the man, and his wife, who had helped him in his cruelty, suddenly the flood of old resentment overwhelmed him.
Turning to the choir, he said, "Sing another song while I pray." Then he went down on his knees in that old box pulpit where no one but the choir and God could see. And this was his prayer: "Lord, I've promised with an oath to whip that man if I ever lived to be big enough to do it. I believe I could do it today. He needs the whipping; but, Lord, if You will whip him, I will preach to him of Your wondrous love." Then he arose from his knees and began to preach.
Later he made an altar call, and the first to respond were that man and his wife. The young preacher left the pulpit and went down to them. Kneeling between the two, he put an arm around each. There on his knees he led them both to Christ.
Nothing but the love of God could accomplish such a miracle. And that love is drawing you and me and all men today.
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