I wish we could send mail to heaven. If we could, I would. I would write a thank you letter to Charles Haddon Spurgeon for writing all that he did, for he always points me to the lovely Lord Jesus.
The other day I was sorting through some boxes in the garage and came across a book called Morning and Evening. It is a collection of writings from Spurgeon, a late lover of God. I cracked it open then and there, and haven't closed it since.
This one especially spoke to me. May it speak to you as well.
“Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with your might.”
Ecclesiastes 9:10
"‘Whatsoever your hand finds to do’ refers to works that are possible. There are many things which our heart finds to do which we never shall do. It is well it is in our heart; but if we would be eminently useful, we must not be content with forming schemes in our heart, and talking of them; we must practically carry out ‘whatsoever our hand finds to do.’ One good deed is more worth than a thousand brilliant theories. Let us not wait for large opportunities, or for a different kind of work, but do just the things we ‘find to do’ day by day. We have no other time in which to live. The past is gone; the future has not arrived; we never shall have any time but present. Then do not wait until your experience has ripened into maturity before you attempt to serve God. Endeavour now to bring forth fruit. Serve God now, but be careful as to the way in which you perform what you find to do – ‘do it with your might.’ Do it promptly; do not fritter away your life in thinking of what you intend to do tomorrow as if that could recompense for the idleness of today. No man ever served God by doing things tomorrow. If we honour Christ and are blessed, it is by the things which we do today. Whatever you do for Christ throw your whole soul into it. Do not give Christ a little slurred labour done as a matter of course now and then; but when you do serve Him, do it with heart, and soul, and strength. But where is the might of a Christian? It is not in himself, for he is perfect weakness. His might lies in the Lord of Hosts. Then let us seek His help; let us proceed with prayer and faith, and when we have done what our ‘hand finds to do’ let us wait upon the Lord for His blessing. What we do thus will be well done, and will not fail in its effect."
Well said, Spurgeon. Well said. Oh how I need to hear this, often!! I pray to God to make us faithful doers, here.
The other week I went to go see Slumdog Millionaire with my sister. At the finish of the movie, as the credits were rolling, I was ready to go to India with the good Gospel news. However on the car-ride home, I was convicted as I reminded Beth, who was about to buy a plane ticket with me, that He has placed us here currently and has called us to share His love with the people here. (Funny how God often challenges me when I'm in the middle of challenging others.) While yes, it is all fine to desire to do something noble for the Lord elsewhere, it is wrong to forget or fail in the place He has placed us at any given time. We too often as Christians look forward to 'missions' and abort our mission here. Is not California just as lost as India? Is not the name and justice and mercy of Jesus made a mockery of in the United States? Are there not lost and lonely people just around the corner? All that to say, let us not disobey His command 'here' and expect to fill it 'there'. Be consistent. Get real. And let's start lighting up our work-place, home, school campus, and street.
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