Evening, October 17, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

“In His arm He will gather the lambs.” — Isaiah 40:11

Our good Shepherd has in his flock sheep with a variety of experiences: some are strong in the Lord, and others are weak in faith, but he is impartial in his care for all his sheep, and the weakest lamb is as dear to him as the most mature of the flock. Lambs are inclined to lag behind, prone to wander, and apt to grow weary, but from all the danger of these weaknesses the Shepherd protects them with his arm of power. He finds newborn souls, like young lambs, ready to perish–he nourishes them till life becomes vigorous; he finds weak minds ready to faint and die–he consoles them and renews their strength. He gathers all the little ones, for it is not the will of our heavenly Father that one of them should perish. What a quick eye he must have to see them all! What a tender heart to care for them all! What a far reaching and powerful arm, to gather them all! In his lifetime on earth he was a great gatherer of the weak, and now that he dwells in heaven, his loving heart yearns towards the meek and contrite, the timid and feeble, the fearful and fainting here below. How gently did he gather me to himself, to his truth, to his blood, to his love, to his church! With what effective grace did he compel me to come to himself! Since my first conversion, how frequently has he restored me from my wanderings, and once again folded me within the circle of his everlasting arm! The best of all is, that he does it all himself personally, not delegating the task of love, but descending himself to rescue and preserve his most unworthy servant. How shall I love him enough or serve him worthily? I would gladly make his name great to the ends of the earth, but what can my feebleness do for him? Great Shepherd, add to your mercies towards me this one other, a heart to love you more truly as I ought.