The dove is the bird that speaks of tenderness, love and sorrow. When the Lord Jesus was here on earth the Spirit of God descended like a dove upon Him (Mark 1). “Like a dove” for that was the character the Lord Jesus was going to take in this world.
The name, turtledove, makes us think at once of sweetness, kindness, beauty and grace. The dove, I am told, is the only one of all the birds that does not have any gall. Gall is very bitter, and it is hard to think of there being any bitterness about the turtledove.
There is no bitterness in the Lord Jesus, and if you trust Him as your Saviour, He will take away the bitterness from your heart. He will take away your sins because He died for you at Calvary. He will make you a happy Christian, a joy to your parents and a blessing to all who know you.
Once when I was a guest in the home of an old Swedish gentleman, he said to me, “I like the turtledove the best of all birds.” This was interesting to me, so I asked him why.
“Because the turtledove always says, ‘God is good, is good, is good! God is good, is good, is good!’ and I like that.” I had to agree with him, for surely the cooing of the dove sounds just like that.
How good a God we have, who gives us our daily food, the blessings of loving parents and friends, besides the rich provision of delicious fruits and delightful comforts. We should love Him for that. But most of all we should love and thank Him for the precious Saviour He has given, and we should trust Him as our own.
When your Sunday school teacher or parents want to tell you about the Lord Jesus, listen attentively, because they want to help you to know that blessed One who alone is able to save the soul and enrich the heart. The Lord Jesus will bring you to the Father; He will make you fit for heaven and one day will come to take you there. Do not let anyone lead you astray or take you away from trusting this wonderful Saviour.
ML-04/30/1978