The Twentieth of December.

WHAT WILT THOU? --- Luke 18:41.

"What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?" --- Luke 18:41.

O Lord, dost thou ask me also this question? O yes! Well then, I answer, That I may see how gracious thou art; that, knowing thy love in thy light, I may love thee again. This is the sum and substance of all my prayer, because thou requirest it so seriously of me. 1 Corinthians 16:22. But thou dost not require it as of myself, well knowing that I can do nothing; but dost signify only what I am to ask of thee, and what thou art willing to give and to work; for thou dost not require anything, but what thou workest thyself, and workest everything that thou requirest; therefore, faith and love being required by thee, I require the same from thee first.

Grant, oh grant them to me, that I may return them to thee again! And since nothing is pleasing to thee but what is thy own gift, I trust that thou wilt certainly hear and fulfil this request. However, as my salvation is not grounded in my own, but on thine and thy Father's eternal love and counsel, save me by free grace through thy merits, and let me go covered all over with grace and pardon. This is treasure enough, by which my heart can be well satisfied.

He that can shake the world he made,
Or with his word, or his rod;
His goodness how amazing great!
And what a condescending God.

Our sorrows and our tears we pour
Into the bosom of our God;
He hears us in the mournful hour,
And helps us bear the heavy load.

Devotion for December 20