GOD, CALL OF

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

—Luke 19:13

1876 Princess’ Rest

Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King Charles I of England, lies buried in Newport Church, in the Isle of Wight. During the time of her father’s trouble, she was a prisoner in Carisbrook Castle, in the same beautiful island. While there she had a long spell of sickness. She was found one day dead in her bed with her Bible open before her and her finger resting on these words, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

A monument in Newport, erected by Queen Victoria, represents the young princess with her head bowed in death, and her hand resting on a marble book before her, her finger pointing to the words.

—Walter Baxendale

1877 Come Unto Me

I heard the voice of Jesus say,

“Come unto me and rest;

Lay down, thou weary one, lay down

Thy head upon my breast!”

I came to Jesus as I was,

Weary, and worn and sad;

I found in him a resting place,

And he hath made me glad.

This poem is entitled “The Voice from Galilee.” The two secrets of its wonderful popularity are found in the fact that it introduces the words of our Lord in a picturesque way, as if one’s ear had happened to catch them on the air, and then his voice made an immediate response by “coming” towards the words of invitation and promise; and then that it employs possessive pronouns for its phraseology, and so individualizes the believer. Christ says, “Come to me,” and the Christian says, “I came.” Christ says, “I give thee living water”; and the listener answers, “My thirst was quenched.” Christ says, “I am light”; and the child of God replies, “I found in Him my Star, my Sun!”

—Current Anecdotes

1878 From Benediction To Entreaty

It is recorded of Thorwaldsen, that in his great statue of Christ, which now stands in the “Lady Church” of Copenhagen, he had wanted to achieve the intended expression of benignity by making Christ’s hands upraised as if for benediction. The effect was sublime, conjoined as it was with the compassionate sweetness of His kingly countenance.

But the soul of the sculptor was not satisfied. At last, as if by a sudden flash of genius, he depressed the arms of the clay model into a posture of yearning entreaty. And so the statue was wrought, an image to every hushed beholder of the Redeemer’s appeal, in perfect sympathy conjoined with royal might, to the woe- stricken race of men.

—Walter Baxendale

1879 Call To China From Industry

Several years ago, this ad appeared in an English publication for six men to go to China:

Six courageous young men are needed at once to go to China for the Chinese Industrial Co-Ops which trains technicians for a democratically industrialized China. They are to take the place of George Hogg, brilliant 3l-year-old Oxford graduate, who died of tetanus in Northwest China beyond reach of medical aid. If willing to risk disease, endure discomfort, eat only Chinese food, talk Chinese, he may apply immediately at the Anglo-Chinese Development Society. Anyone not prepared to take similar risks need not apply.

Over 600 young men applied! Yet a relative few responded to similar challenges from the mission fields.

1880 Dead Man’s Letter

When searching for David Livingstone, Henry M. Stanley had a most unusual reception from King Mutesa in Uganda. The queen had a strange dream about the white man’s God and His Son Jesus Christ shortly before Stanley’s arrival. She related her dream after the arrival of Stanley at the royal house.

The king and queen pleaded with Stanley to send a letter to England and ask for a missionary teacher to be sent to them. He wrote the letter and sent it out by a young Frenchman who was leaving Stanley’s party.

The bearer of the letter was murdered. Several months later his body was found by some British soldiers. Searching through his clothing, they found Stanley’s letter in one of his boots. They sent it to England, where it was featured in the Daily Telegraph.

Great interest was aroused. When the Church Missionary Society appealed for missionary volunteers to go to King Mutesa’s land, several young men responded.

1881 That Boy In Organ Loft

When Robert Moffat, Scottish missionary to South Africa, came back to recruit helpers in his homeland, he was greeted by the fury of a cold British winter. Arriving at the church where he was to speak he noted that only a small group had braved the elements to hear his appeal. What disturbed him even more was that there were only ladies in attendance that night, for he had chosen as his text Proverbs 8:4, “Unto you, O men, I call.”

In his consternation he almost failed to notice one small boy in the loft who had come to work the bellows of the organ. Dr. Moffat felt hopeless as he gave the message, realizing that few women could be expected to undergo the rigorous experiences they would face in the undeveloped jungles of the continent where he labored.

But God works in mysterious ways to carry out His wise purposes. Although no one volunteered, the young fellow assisting the organist was thrilled by the challenge. Deciding that he would follow in the footsteps of this pioneer missionary, he went on to school, obtained a degree in medicine, and then spent the rest of his life ministering to the unreached tribes of Africa. His name: David Livingstone!

—Our Daily Bread

1882 Priority Claim In Invitations

Someone asked Emily Post, “What is the correct procedure when one is invited to the White House and has a previous engagement?” She answered, “An invitation to lunch or dine at the White House is a command, and automatically cancels any other engagement.” The Christian should have a daily engagement—with priority claim over everything—to meet the Lord in the secret place.

—Good News Broadcaster

1883 Beethoven’s Four Beats

One of Beethoven’s most famous concertos was suggested to him as he heard repeated knocks in the stillness of the night at a neighbor’s door. The concerto begins with four soft taps of the drum, raised in this work to the rare dignity of a solo instrument. Again and again the four beats are heard throughout the music, making a wonderful effect. God’s call comes in irresistible and repeated knockings on the heart.

—Christian Register

1884 Paging Device

A Christian doctor who presided at a Bible Conference where I was speaking was seated on the front row. I was well into my message when suddenly a voice said, “Doctor 22, please check with the hospital at once!” It came from a paging device attached to his belt. The physician got up and left immediately. Although he had told me this might happen, I confess I was momentarily distracted. When God calls, it is time for action.

—Selected

See also: Consecration ; Submission ; Surrender to God .