Part 4 (1/2)
”He careth for you.”--I Pet. v. 7.
It is so pleasant to be cared for; to have kind relations and friends who show that they love you by their care of you, and their care for you. What would you do if no one cared for you, like the poor little children in London who are turned out to ”do for themselves” before they are as old as you are? What would you do if there was no one to get anything for you to eat, or to see to your clothes, or to keep a home for you to live in? No one to take any notice if you hurt yourself ever so badly, or if you were ever so ill? You would feel then what a difference being cared for makes to your life. But all the earthly care for you comes because ”He careth for you.” He planned and arranged everything, without your having anything to do with it, so that you shall be cared for. And He did not arrange it once for all, and then leave things to go on as might happen. No! Every day, every moment, He careth, _goes on_ caring, for you. Not only thinking of you and watching you, but working for you; making things come right, so that everything should be just the best that could happen to you. Not managing the great things, and leaving the little things to arrange themselves; but giving loving care to the least, the very least things that concern you. Even in some tiny little trouble which no one else seems to care about, ”He careth;” or when every one else is too much taken up with other things to attend to you, ”He careth for you.”
You can never get beyond G.o.d's care, for it always reaches you; you can never be outside of it, for it is always enfolding you.
”'Who will take care of me?' darling, you say, Lovingly, tenderly watched as you are?
Listen! I give you the answer to-day, One who is never forgetful or far.
”He will take care of you! All through the year Crowning each day with His kindness and love, Sending you blessings and s.h.i.+elding from fear, Leading you on to His bright home above.”
19. Nineteenth Day.
Under His Wings.
”Under His wings shall thou trust.”--Ps. xci. 4.
That means to-day, not some other time! Under His wings, the shadowing wings of the Most High, you, poor little helpless one, are to trust to-day.
When the little eaglets, that have not yet a feather to fly with, are under the great wings of the parent eagle, how safe they are! Who would dare touch them? If a bold climber put his hand into the nest then, those powerful wings would beat him in a minute from his hold, and he would fall down the rocks and be dashed to pieces. So safe shall you be ”under His wings,” ”nothing shall by any means hurt you” there.
When the wild snow-storms rage round the eyrie, and the mountain cold is felt, that is death to an unprotected sleeper, how warm the little eaglets are kept! Not an arrow of the keen blast reaches them, poor little featherless things, not a snowflake touches them. So warm shall you be kept ”under His wings,” when any cold and dark day of trouble comes, or even any sudden little blast of unkindness or loneliness.
”Under His wings shall thou _trust_!” Not ”shall thou _see_!” If one of the eaglets wanted to see for itself what was going on, and thought it could take care of itself for a little while, and hopped from under the shadow of the wings, it would be neither safe nor warm. The sharp wind would chill it, and the cruel hand might seize it then. So you are to _trust_, rest quietly and peacefully, ”under His wings;” stay there, not be peeping out and wondering whether G.o.d really is taking care of you! You may be always safe and happy there. Safe, for ”in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge.” Happy, for ”in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.”
Remember, too, that it is a command as well as a promise; it is what you are to do to-day, all day long: ”Under His wings _shalt_ thou trust!”
”I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, Trusting only Thee!
Trusting Thee for full salvation, Great and free.
”I am trusting Thee to guide me, Thou alone shalt lead!
Every day and hour supplying All my need.”
20. Twentieth Day
Always Near.
”I am with you alway.”--Matt. xxvlii. 20.
How nice it would be if we could always have the one we loved best in all the world with us; never away from us night or day, and no fear that they ever possibly would or could leave us; never a good-bye even for ever such a little while, and never, never the long farewell of death!
Can this ever be for you? Yes, for you; for to every one who is a disciple of the Lord Jesus (that is, who learns of Him and owns Him as Master), He says, ”I am with you alway.” He does not even say, ”I will be with you;”