The Gracious Hug

Do you ever feel the need to just be held?  Do you sense the need of heart and soul to have someone just take you in their arms and give you a hug that you hope will never end?  Isaiah 40:11 is the pronouncement made by the one who comes to prepare the way for the Lord.  That one says, “He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.”  700 years after the prophecy of Isaiah Jesus came to Jerusalem and announced, “I Am the Good Shepherd”.  What will the Good Shepherd do?  He will lay down His life for the sheep.  He will take up His life again.  Then He will lead His sheep and carry them gently in His arms.  This is the grace of God in Christ.

Jane Leeson was a hymnist in the 19^th century who is little remembered today.  Of the 15 hymn texts she was known to write only three are still even vaguely in use and two of those are about Jesus the Good Shepherd.  One is titled “Loving Shepherd of Thy Sheep” and the other is “Gracious Savior, Gentle Shepherd”.  The latter, co-authored by the hymnist John Keble, is a truly beautiful hymn that should still be in regular use at the dedication or baptism of a child.  Its first stanza is clearly from Isaiah 40 and the second from John 10.  “Gracious Savior, gentle Shepherd, our little ones are dear to Thee; gathered with Thine arms and carried, in Thy bosom may they be, sweetly, gently, safely tended, from all want and danger free. Tender Shepherd, never leave them, from Thy fold to go astray; by Thy look of love directed, may they walk the narrow way; thus direct them, and protect them, lest they fall an easy prey.”  It is a gracious prayer for the tender keeping care of His little lambs. 

While clearly referring to children, we all have that same need within us.  We need a gracious and gentle shepherd.  We need a tender shepherd.  We need to be gathered into His arms and carried and safely tended.  Each phrase of this hymn resonates with the tenderest emotions of anticipation of love from the Good Shepherd.  They are not emotions and needs that will go unfulfilled.  Christ is the grace of God.  Grace as expressed in this beautiful hymn is just what He provides for us each day.  Rest in His arms of grace.  Melt into the bosom of the Savior and lie down in peace hearing only the beating of His caring heart.  Let Him take you fully into His arms today.  

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