One day the father watched the boy play and feeling great
affection, he spontaneously gave the child a big hug and said, “I love you.”
The boy responded, “I is sorry.”
My article pointed to the love of God and His expression
of it in sending His Son to die for us. Whenever I think of His love for me, “I
is sorry” ought to be part of my response too. His love and my repentance go
together.
Yesterday and this morning I’ve felt overwhelmed by life.
I forgot to take my medications on Tuesday night and was reminded again that my
heart is weak and failing. Without the meds, it does not beat properly. I then retain
fluid and feel crappy. Not only that, we are preparing for a couple of big
changes in our lives (more later). Both of them will have wonderful pluses, but
I’d been focusing on the minuses. Add to that bad news about a grandchild and a
general sense that my life hasn’t amounted to much, and I was having a
pity-party.
Before this morning’s devotional reading, I asked the
Lord to speak to me. Even though this passage is Samuel talking to the
Israelites, Jesus used these words to speak to me and give me a big hug.
The Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. (1 Samuel 12:22–24)
F. Whitfield, the author of today’s reading, says this, “Look
back on all the way the Lord your God has led you. Do you not see it dotted
with ten thousand blessings in disguise? Call to mind the needed succor sent at
the critical moment: the right way chosen for you, instead of the wrong way you
had chosen for yourself; the hurtful thing to which your heart so fondly clung,
removed out of your path; the breathing-time granted, which your tried and struggling
spirit just at the moment needed. Oh, has not Jesus stood at your side when you
knew it not? Has not Infinite Love encircled every event with its everlasting
arms, and gilded every cloud with its merciful lining? Oh, retrace your steps,
and mark His footprint in each one! Thank Him for them all, and learn the
needed lesson of leaning more simply on Jesus.”
Oh Jesus, I is sorry.
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