daily-devotionals

Reading: “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.”—2 Corinthians 8:12

Surely, Lord, you have given me “a willing mind,” for you have made me “willing in the day of thy power” (Psalm 110:3). I feel my soul desires you as my chief and only good. But how I continually fall short of the enjoyment of Christ. I can truly say, “Whom is there in heaven, or upon earth, that I desire in comparison of thee?” When Christ is present, I am in heaven, and when He is absent, my soul pines after Him. Whatever gifts you have graciously bestowed on me, in the kindness of friends, in the affections and charities of life, yet all these are secondary blessings. They are more or less lovely, as I see your gracious hand in them; but are nothing to my Lord.

Is this not a willing mind? But in the midst of this how often is my heart wandering from you. Though there is at the bottom of my heart a constant longing for your presence, and the sweet visits of your love, yet through the mass of unbelief, and the remains of indwelling corruption in my nature which keep the soul down, the enemy tempts me to question my interest in you.

Does Jesus indeed accept from the willing mind, according to what a man has, and not according to what he has not? Does my Redeemer behold, amidst the rubbish, the spark of grace He Himself has kindled? Will He despise the day of small things? No, He will not. It was said of Him, that He would not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax (Matthew 12:20). Mine, indeed, is no more. But yet Jesus will bear up the one, and kindle the other, until He send forth judgment unto victory. Peace, then, weak as you are in yourself, yet you are strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. 

Taken from The Poor Man’s Evening and Morning Portions by Rev. Robert Hawker, Works, Vol. 8; 1830. Edited by Aaron Dunlop for thinkgospel.com ©2013.