1114. A Willingness to Serve

A Willingness to Serve

"Let as go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye" (2Ki_6:2).

There are several striking lessons for us just here. How splendid it was for these young men to be not only willing but anxious to serve. They were not waiting to be coaxed, they were not pulling back, they were eager for work.

They said, "Let us go" and Elisha answered, "Go ye."

Let the young men and women who ponder these lines remember that there is before them a whitened harvest field. Christ is saying, "Lift up your eyes and see, for the fields are white unto the harvest."

"In the harvest field there is work to do,

For the grain is ripe, and the reapers few;

And the Master's voice bids the workers true

Heed the call that He gives to-day."

Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" He responded, "Here am I; send me."

Can we not hear the voice of the Lord saying, "Go"?

Sometimes we fail to catch the significance in the words:

"Go work to-day in My vineyard."

"Go to thine own house and tell what great things the Lord hath done unto thee."

"Go out into the byways and hedges."

"Go unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel."

"Go into all the world and preach."

Let us answer these questions:

How can the lost believe in Him of Whom they have not heard?

How can they hear without a preacher?

How can they preach except they be sent?

How beautiful are the feet of those who go preaching, publishing the good news of salvation!

Let us remember this:

God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.

God has committed unto us the WORK of reconciliation.

God has committed unto us the WORD of reconciliation.

Who will go?

Let us remember the following wonderful couplets:

God said unto Paul (see Act_26:14-18).

"Rise, and stand upon thy feet.

I will make thee a minister and a witness–

Of what thou hast seen–of things in which

I shall appear unto thee.

"Delivering thee from the people (Jews) and

from the Gentiles

That they may turn * *

From darkness to light.

From the power of satan unto God.

"That they may receive

Forgiveness and an inheritance.

God has also called each of us in His vineyard. There is a work for us all to do. The task is great; the responsibilities are many; the foes are strong–but let us go in the strength of the Lord our God. Can we say with Paul: "I am ready"? (see Rom_1:15; Act_21:13).

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR