April 17, 2023 - 2 Chronicles 26-28

Uzziah was a good king, though prideful. Jotham was a good king, but allowed corrupt worship at the temple. Ahaz was not a good king; he sacrificed his son and was an idolater. Very much like our own hearts, how divided were the hearts of the kings and the people! We are not idolaters in the sense of bowing before and honoring statues of idols. But how often are our hearts divided, or at least, not as wholly devoted to God as they should be! In chapel, Thursday, we sang, “Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee . . .” Let that be our prayer, this morning. Let us be not wishy washy in our devotion and commitment to God and his kingdom, but hot, on fire, wholly committed to him. I have prayed the following verses, this morning, for all of us at Baxter: that our lives would be consecrated to the Lord, that our hands and voices and wealth and wills and hearts would be given wholly to our God, that we would love him supremely.

Take my life and let it be

consecrated, Lord, to thee.

Take my moments and my days;

let them flow in endless praise,

let them flow in endless praise.

Take my hands . . .

Take my voice . . .

Take my silver and my gold . . .

Take my will . . . my heart . . .

Take my love; my Lord, I pour

at thy feet its treasure store.

Take myself, and I will be

ever, only, all for thee,

ever, only, all for thee. --Frances R. Havergal (1874)