God allures through affliction

November 29

“Behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her” (Hos. 2:14).
“With lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jer. 31:3).

Thus God attracts us, showing us His love and His Word, and bringing us unto Himself, alluring us, not scolding us. God does not scold. He allures and draws us and attracts us. That has been His dealing with every soul (Jer. 31:3). Because He loves us, He draws us to Himself. As we look back on our past, it may be that some lives have been hedged up with thorns (Hos. 2:6), and there have been difficulties and trials and troubles, because you have forgotten Him, and gone after other things. But God has allured you unto Himself. He wanted you to feel the hopelessness of all those other things, in which you hoped to find pleasure and satisfaction.
—Barclay Buxton.

He bade me leave the things I love the best;
I held them back from His entreating hand;
He offered peace; I chose my own unrest,
And would not understand.

And still His patience never knew decay,
And still He waited for the certain end;
There came a storm that swept my joys away,
And then I knew my Friend.

And finding One in Whom my soul can trust,
I turned my face from dreams that proved untrue,
Leaving old relics crumbling in the dust;
For Christ makes all things new.
—Sarah Doudney.

I always find that there is more hazard in sailing upon smooth water. When the winds blow and the seas rage, even sleepers will rise and call upon God.
—John Wesley.

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