A reading of Anglican priest Robert Hawker’s (1753–1827) morning devotional writings from “The Poor Man’s Morning and Evening Portion.”
The music for this reading is “Belted Kingfisher” by Chad Crouch and was adapted for length under a Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
“Unto you, therefore, which believe, he is precious.”—1 Pet. 2:7
My soul, art thou anxious to know whether thou art a true believer in Jesus! Try it, then, by this mark, which the Holy Ghost hath given by his servant the apostle. Do you believe in Jesus for ‘life and salvation? Yes, truly; if so be, he is precious. Look at him, then. Is Jesus precious in his person, precious in his work, precious in his offices, precious in his relations, precious in his whole character? Do you know him, so as to love him, to live to him, to rejoice in him, and to cast your whole soul upon him, for life and salvation? Do you accept him as the Father’s gift, the Sent, the Sealed, the Anointed, the Christ, of the Father? Is he so precious, that there is nothing in him but what you love—nothing that you would part with? His cross is dear as well as his crown! Afflictions with Jesus, sweeter than prosperity without him! Pause over these questions. Recollect that there is nothing out of Jesus that can be truly satisfying. Thy dearest earthly friend, however sweet, hath yet some tinge, some alloy of what is not sweet. But there is no mixture in thy Jesus; all is pure, and lovely, and transcendently glorious. He is, as one of old described him, a sea of sweetness, without a single drop of gall. And now, my soul, what sayest thou concerning Jesus? Is he precious to thee under all these, and a thousand more distinguishing excellences? Say, if Jesus were to be bought, wouldest thou not sell all thou hast to buy? Were he to be sold, wouldest thou not rather lose thy life than part with him? Surely, then, he must be precious to thee: and, as such, thou art a believer; for the apostle has commanded us to say, that “ unto them which believe he is precious.” Take comfort, then, my soul: he that is precious now, will be so for ever. Yes, precious Lord, there is none in heaven or earth I desire besides thee!
