October 17, Evening
C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling
"He shall gather the lambs with His arm." — Isaiah 40:11 · KJV
Our good Shepherd has in His flock a variety of experiences: some are strong in the Lord, and others 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 advanced of the flock. Lambs are apt to lag behind, prone to wander, and quick 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, and nourishes them till life grows vigorous; He finds weak minds ready to faint and die, and consoles them and renews their strength. All the little ones He gathers, 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 mighty arm, to gather them all! In His lifetime on earth He was a great gatherer of the weaker sort, and now that He dwells in heaven, His loving heart yearns toward the meek and contrite, the timid and feeble, the fearful and fainting here below. How gently He gathered me to Himself — to His truth, to His blood, to His love, to His church! With what effectual grace He compelled me to come to Himself! Since my first conversion, how often He has restored me from my wanderings, and once again folded me within the circle of His everlasting arm! Best of all, He does it all Himself, in person — not delegating the task of love, but stooping 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 this one more: a heart to love You more truly, as I ought.