Loved, Though Naughty.

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WHAT a blessing that the Lord’s measure of forgiveness is not according to our fears, or even according to our faith. “He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:77Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7).
“Ah!” says Satan, “you’ve done it again! Now God will not love you.”
No, He still loves me—loves me when I fall—loves me even when I am naughty,
“Grandmother,” said a little girl, “do you love me?”
“Yes, dear, of course I do.’’
“Do you love me when I am naughty?” “Yes, dear.”
The little one looked up into her grandmother’s kind, forgiving face, with some surprise, and said,
“My mother doesn’t love me when I’m naughty. I wish I lived with you.” “Why, May?”
“Because, if you always loved me, I’d never be naughty.”
What good arguing! Loved, and so kept. Loved when naughty, and so kept from being naughty. May such a life— such a love, be ours. —The love which passeth knowledge. The more we know of that love the more shall we be preserved from evil.
ML 12/08/1918