Daily Companion  |  17 April

DRAWN BY GOD 

The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you”. (Jeremiah 31:3)

 Have you ever observed an infant crying before, lifting his arms and waiting to be carried? The child does so because he has seen the parent drawing near towards him. Then the parent will stretch forth hands to carry him. 

Like the little child, so are we to the living God. Our heavenly Father is full of lovingkindness. Despite His eyes cannot tolerate our sinful lives nor live within our corrupt abodes, He came down in flesh as Emmanuel to draw us to Himself. Christ Jesus, our Emmanuel was lifted on the cross for this purpose. He said, “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32). God constantly draws us to Himself but men continue to run away. The privilege we now have in this dispensation of grace was lacking before Christ advent. The prophets and old heroes had waited and prayed endlessly for the grace people now frustrate. Solomon prayed, “Draw me, we will run after thee” (Song 1:4) and when God drew near, his life was totally transformed with wealth and wisdom. According to our focal verse, Prophet Jeremiah only had such experience once in his lifetime and yet his life was forever changed. To the children of Israel, God “drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love” (Hosea 11:4) after they sinned against God and cried for salvation. After being drawn by God, they became God’s elect. Other men who were drawn by God had these to say. David said, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee (Psalm 73:25). Apostle John affirmed, “We love him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). 

Beloved, will you like to be drawn by God? As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so Christ was lifted up for you to be drawn to God’s unending blessings and joy. That whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:14, 15). Stop making it difficult for God to lift you up. Lift you arm like a little child in humility. Stop being heady. Or are you not tired of your loneliness and wretchedness? Are you not fed up with despair and disappointment? Christ has suffered so much for you to be lifted. He has stooped so low to elevate you, leaving His glory in heaven to abase Himself so that you can be exalted. You time to be drawn to God has come. Seize the moment with God now. 

Today’s Recite:  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. James 4:8

Today’s Morning Prayers: Heavenly Father, I know You love me. Forgive me for despising and ignoring You. I am sorry for sometimes being stubborn. I humble myself before You to be drawn unto You this day. Lift my hands and head up O Lord God of my salvation. Turn my life around in Jesus name I pray.  Amen!

Today’s Hymn: NEARER MY GOD  

Today’s ReadMe:  2 Kings 7 - 9