February 2

I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of Hosts. - Zechariah 1:3.

HIS command to turn unto him might have been enforced by his absolute right, and by his uncontrolled authority; but he softens and sweetens it by his goodness and grace, assuring us that we shall not seek him in vain, but find him to the joy and rejoicing of our heart. This assurance is necessary. “We are saved by hope;” nothing can be done without hope. We have something here more than mere conjecture-mere peradventure-mere possibility, or probability. Possibility will, in some cases, actuate a man-and the beginning of a religious life is sometimes a kind of venture with young converts-but probability will influence even much more. But here we have certainty- we have all the assurance we can desire-founded upon the veracity of a true and faithful God. He says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” He in effect says,

“Look from the borders of the pit

To my recovering grace.”

And see what it has actually done. Look at Manasseh, who sinned away all the advantages of a pious education; and yet “in his affliction he sought the Lord God of his fathers, and was found of him.” How basely did the Prodigal conduct himself. He confessed that he was not worthy to be called a son; and all he could plead for was to be made like a hired servant; but when he turned to his father, the father saw him while he was yet a great way off, and had compassion on him, and “ran and fell upon his neck, and kissed him;” and not only clothed, but adorned him; not only fed, but feasted him. Let the goodness of God, therefore, lead us to repentance; and while God is turning to us with a smiling face and open arms, invoking us to return unto him, let us say, with the Church, “Behold we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God.”