JESUS, Have Mercy Upon me!
"...sat by the highway side begging." - Mark 10:46
My soul, learn a lesson from the beggar this morning. And Oh Thou blessed friend of beggars, do Thou sweetly make the view gracious to my soul. What was it led this poor man to the high-way side to seek alms? Surely his poverty, wretchedness, and a sense of want. And art thou come forth, my soul, from the same cause, and on the same errand? I presume this poor creature came forth empty; for had he been full he would never have come. And art thou so, my soul! for otherwise it is certain, they that are full in themselves never seek Jesus. But amidst his want and poverty, had this poor beggar hopes that the passers by would commiserate his case and relieve him? Yes, no doubt: though some might overlook and disregard him, all would not.
But, my soul, thy case far exceeds his. Though all disregard, Jesus will not: and thou art sure He will pass by, and not only behold thy misery, but give thee needed relief. Jesus, Master, have mercy upon me! Behold, I am come out this morning as poor, as wretched, as empty, and as needy, as though I never before had heard of Thy dear name, or been living upon Thy fulness. But Thou knowest that I cannot live upon the alms of yesterday, no more than my body can keep in health from the food received in the many days that are past, without a new supply, Lord, I know that I am Thine, and that Thou art mine. I therefore come to Thee for a suited supply; and surely, Thou wilt not send me empty away. Indeed, Lord, I rejoice that I feel my poverty; for I am thereby, as an empty vessel, better suited for receiving of Thy fulness.
Give in, blessed Jesus, to my poor hungry soul, and then I shall find cause to rejoice that my emptiness and beggary constrained me to seek Thee; and that my need afforded an opportunity for the display of Thy grace. Yes, yes, blessed Lord, I am not only content to be poor and to be needy, but to be nothing, to be worse than nothing, so that if thereby my blessed Jesus gets glory in the manifestation of His love and the giving out of His riches, "I will glory even in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." A beggar still I wish to be, and to lay at Thy gate, if but to glimpse at thy face, and to receive one token from thy fair hand. Indeed, indeed, then am I most full, when most empty, to be filled with Jesus.
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