MY JESUS AS THOU WILT

            Commitment - a promise or a firm decision to do something. Unfortunately, the term has little meaning in today's world.

          Athletes often break their contracts and leave their teams for more money.  Politicians break their promises for political gain. But maybe even more common today, husbands and wives break their commitments to each other and leave their marriages.  Breaking of commitments is just too common today.

          Today's hymn deals with this matter in our spiritual lives. After the decision to obey the gospel and accept God's provisions for our salvation, the next most important decision is to continue living after God's will, regardless of what the circumstances are or what the future may bring. At the same time, one of the hardest attitudes to maintain in time of adversity is following God's will.  Therefore, we need to be reminded that God can empower us to live victoriously for Him only as we have the attitude, "My Jesus, As Thou Wilt."

          Today's text was written by Benjamin Schmolke (sometimes spelled Schmolk), who was born at Brauchitzchdorf in Silesia, Germany, in December, 1672, the son of Martin Schmolke, a German Lutheran minister.  Like his father, he became a Lutheran minister. Probably as the result of his exhausting labors he had a stroke of paralysis in 1730 at age 58, which for a time laid him aside altogether, and after which he never recovered the use of his right hand. For five more years he was still able to officiate, preaching for the last time in 1735. But two more strokes of paralysis followed, and then cataract came on, relieved for a time by a successful operation, but returning again incurably. For the last months of his life he was confined to bed, till his passing, on the anniversary of his wedding, Feb. 12, 1737.

          Credited with the authorship over 900 hymns, he first published this one in his 1704.  Schmolke's only surviving hymn was translated into English by Jane Laurie Borthwick (1813-1897). The translation was probably made around in 1853 was first published the following year in a book, Hymns from the Land of Luther, which consisted of 114 translations of German hymns by Jane and her sister, Sarah Borthwick Findlater.

          This hymn is a prayer that we should daily share. "My Jesus, as Thou wilt: O may Thy will be mine!" "Through sorrow or thro' joy, Conduct me as Thine own." "All shall be well for me; Each changing future scene, I gladly trust with Thee."

          This is a hymn of resignation and resolution - no matter what your life is or what you will do, God's will will be done.   Have you made such a commitment?  Can you say, "My Jesus As Thou Wilt?"

 

1     My Jesus, as Thou wilt:

O may Thy will be mine!

Into Thy hand of love

I would my all resign.

Through sorrow or thro' joy,

Conduct me as Thine own,

And help me still to say,

My Jesus as thou wilt.

2.    My Jesus, as Thou wilt! 

If needy here and poor,

Give me Thy people's bread, 

their portion rich and sure;

The manna of Thy Word 

Let my soul feed upon;

And if all else should fail, 

my Lord, Thy will be done.

3.      My Jesus, as Thou wilt:

Tho' seen thro' many'a tear,

Let not my star of hope

Grow dim or disappear.

Since Thou on earth hast wept

And sorrowed oft alone,

If I must weep with Thee,

My Lord, Thy will be done.

4.      My Jesus, as Thou wilt:

All shall be well for me;

Each changing future scene

I gladly trust with Thee.

Straight to my home above

I travel calmly on,

And sing in life or death,

"My Lord, Thy will be done."

Listen to it here.  COMMITMENT