HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div
“When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.” Hosea 11:1
Is it not very touching to see how God recalls the promise of the days when I knew Him first? He travels across the great wilderness of my neglect until He comes to the oasis of my early love; on that, He fixes His thought with a wistful intensity.
Indeed, I can scarcely marvel at it. For my spiritual youth realized His highest plans.
He chose me before the foundation of the world,
He redeemed me through the passion of His Son,
He sent His Spirit to me, that I might be holy.
It looked as if His high purpose was fulfilled in those morning hours, in those spring days, of my career. He rejoiced. He remembers it still, though in my heart there are no longer birds and sunshine — but bleak winds of autumn and the threat of snow or a hurricane.
Let it kindle my penitence that God thinks so longingly of my better moments. “You did run well,” He says, with one of His truest servants, “who hindered you?” Are you that one?
