Begin at once; before you venture away from this quiet moment, ask your King to take you wholly into His service, and place all the hours of this day quite simply at His disposal, and ask Him to make and keep you ready to do just exactly what He appoints. Never mind about to-morrow; one day at a time is enough. Try it today, and see if it is not a day of strange, almost curious peace, so sweet that you will be only too thankful, when tomorrow comes, to ask Him to take it also–till it will become a blessed habit to hold yourself simply and “wholly at Thy commandment for any manner of service.” The “whatsoever” is not necessarily active work. It may be waiting (whether half an hour or half a life-time), learning, suffering, sitting still. But shall we be less ready for these, if any of them are His appointments for today? Let us ask Him to prepare us for all that He is preparing for us.
These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 1 Timothy 3:14 (KJV)
One of the greatest evangelistic hymns of all time was written by a woman who knew well the release and peace that come from confessing one’s sins and failures to God. “Just As I Am,” a hymn frequently sung at the close of evangelistic meetings, was written by Charlotte Elliott, who at one time had been very bitter with God about the circumstances in her life.
Charlotte was an invalid from her youth and deeply resented the constraints her handicap placed on her activities. In an emotional outburst on one occasion, she expressed those feelings to Dr. Cesar Malan, a minister visiting her home. He listened and was touched by her distress, but he insisted that her problems should not divert her attention from what she most needed to hear. He challenged her to turn her life over to God, to come to Him just as she was, with all her bitterness and anger.
She resented what seemed to be an almost callous attitude on his part, but God spoke to her through him, and she committed her life to the Lord. Each year on the anniversary of that decision, Dr. Malan wrote Charlotte a letter, encouraging her to continue to be strong in her faith. But even as a Christian she had doubts and struggles.
One particularly sore point was her inability to effectively get out and serve the Lord. At times she almost resented her brother’s successful preaching and evangelistic ministry. She longed to be used of God herself, but she felt that her health and physical condition prevented it. Then in 1836, on the fourteenth anniversary of her conversion, while she was alone in the evening, the forty-seven-year-old Charlotte Elliott wrote her spiritual autobiography in verse. Here, in the prayer of confession, she poured out her feelings to God–feelings that countless individuals have identified with in the generation that followed. The third stanza, perhaps more than the others, described her own pilgrimage.
Just as I am, tho tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Many years later, when reflecting on the impact his sister made in penning this one hymn, the Reverend Henry Venn Elliott said, “In the course of a long ministry I hope I have been permitted to see some fruit of my labors, but I feel far more has been done by a single hymn of my sister’s, “Just As I Am.”
And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. 2 Samuel 4:4 (KJV)
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 2:16 (KJV)
This is from “For the Fruits of the Spirit” Hymn, XXV (IV,194,195)
Jesus, God of peace and love,
Send Thy blessing from above,
Take, and seal us for Thine own,
Touch our hearts, and make them one.
By the sense of sin forgiven
Purge out all the former leaven,
Malice, guile, and proud offence;
Take the stone of stumbling hence.
Root up every bitter root,
Multiply the Spirit’s fruit,
Love, and joy, and quiet peace,
Meek, longsuffering goodness;
Strict and general temperance,
Boundless, pure benevolence,
Cordial firm fidelity;
All the mind which was in Thee.
And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: Deuteronomy 14:24 (KJV)
Prodigal: I need to get started on the road, it will be a long trip.
Me: Well, God will be with you.
Prodigal: Yes, He will.
This is from the book Revolution in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan
Early in 1981–while driving alone between meetings in a borrowed car near Greensboro, North Carolina–all the dark feelings of psychological burn-out crept over me. I had a full fledged pity party, feeling sorry for myself and the hard life I was leading.
With a start, I began to tremble with fear. Suddenly I felt the presence of someone else. I realized the Spirit of the Lord was speaking.
“I am not in any trouble,” He chided, “that I need someone to beg for Me or help Me out. I made no promised that I will not keep. It is not the largeness of the work that matters, but only doing what I command. All I ask of you is that you be a servant. For all who join with you in the work, it will be a privilege–a light burden for them.”
The words echoed in my mind. This is His work, I told myself. Why am I making it mine? The burden is light. Why am I making it heavy? The work is a privilege. Why am I making it a chore?
I instantly repented of my sinful attitudes. God was sharing His work with me, and He was speaking of others who would join me. Although I still was doing the work alone, it was exciting to think others would be joining with me and that they too would find the burden to be light. From that moment until this, I have not been overpowered by the burden of heading Gospel for Asia. I find building this mission an exciting, joyful job. Even my preaching has changed. My posture is different. Today the pressure is gone. No more do I feel I have to beg audiences or make them feel guilty.
Because the work of Gospel for Asia–and the whole indigenous missionary movement–is initiated by God, it does not need the worries and guidance of man. Whether our goal is to support 10,000 or 10 million missionaries, whether it is working in 10 states or 100, or whether I must supervise a staff of 5 or 500, I still can approach this work without stress. For this is His work, and our burden is easy.
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
We sleep in peace in the arms of God, when we yield ourselves up to His providence, in a delightful consciousness of His tender mercies; no more restless uncertainties, no more anxious desires, no more impatience at the place we are in; for it is God who has put us there, and who holds us in His arms. Can we be unsafe where He has places us?
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome. Job 7:5 (KJV)
With meekness, humility, and diligence, apply yourself to the duties of your condition. They are the seemingly little things which make no noise that do the business.
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; Hebrews 5:8 (KJV)
In order to mould thee into entire conformity to His will, He must have thee pliable in His hands, and this pliability is more quickly reached by yielding in the little things than even by the greater. Thy one great desire is to follow Him fully; canst thou not say then a continual “yes” to all His sweet commands, whether small or great, and trust Him to lead by the shortest road to thy fullest blessedness?
And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:18 (KJV)
It is astonishing how soon the whole conscience begins to unravel, if a single stitch drops; one little sin indulged makes a hole you could put your head through.
And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry. Matthew 17:23 (KJV)
Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of Thee; Thou only knowest what I need; Thou lovest me better than I know how to love myself. O Father! give to Thy child that which he himself knows not how to ask. I dare not ask either for crosses or consolations; I simply present myself before Thee; I open my heart to Thee. Behold my needs which I know not myself; see, and do according to Thy tender mercy. Smite, or heal; depress me, or raise me up; I adore all Thy purposes without knowing them; I am silent; I offer myself in sacrifice; I yield myself to Thee; I would have no other desire than to accomplish Thy will. Teach me to pray; pray Thyself in me.
And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. Exodus 3:19 (KJV)
