Really Serving the Lord

June 30, 2021 (WEDNESDAY)

It was the spring of 1957. I was a student at the seminary, working each afternoon in a granary and feed store on Lancaster Avenue just east of downtown Fort Worth. I remember well how dark the skies became that afternoon. At 3:00 p.m., darkness descended. If someone had awakened from a nap about that time, he would have thought it was the middle of the night. Dark, dark, dark.

Then came the thunder and lightning, wind and rain. Wow! What a storm! It was not confined to our part of town. It was all over the area, with many tornadoes spawned that day. A film crew literally followed a tornado down a street in downtown Dallas. It had a small base and moved from one side of the street to the other.

Wanda and I were living in Briar, northwest of Fort Worth, a small community just west of Eagle Mountain Lake. One of our friends was watching the evening news from Dallas and saw the film of the dancing tornado in Dallas. His wife was on the front steps, observing the weather, so he called to her, “Honey, come and see this tornado on TV.” She called back, “I don’t have to see one on TV; I’m looking at a real one right now.” It was one of many that day,

Why look at movies, when you can see the real thing? Why read books about the adventures of others, when you canhave those adventures yourself? Why limit yourself to vicarious spiritual experiences? When Christians report the joys of serving Christ, do you intend to listen only? You can be a part of what Christ is doing in this world. You can know the joys of serving Him yourself. You don’t have to limit yourself to feeling good about what others are doing for the Lord; you can do those things too.

One of the greatest days in the life of Isaiah the prophet was the day he heard the Lord’s call, “Whom shall I send?” and he replied, “Here I am; send me!” Do you hear the Lord calling? What will your answer be?

HARK, THE VOICE OF JESUS CALLING
The Baptist Hymnal No. 591
Text: Daniel March
Music: Attr. Wolfgang A. Mozart in Leavitt’s The Christian Lyre; arr. Hubert P. Main
Tune: ELLESDIE Meter: 8.7.8.7.D

1. Hark, the voice of Jesus calling,
“Who will go and work today?
Fields are white, and harvests waiting,
Who will bear the sheaves away?”
Loud and long the Master calls us,
Rich reward He offers free;
Who will answer gladly saying,
“Here am I, send me, send me”?

2. If you cannot cross the ocean,
And the distant lands explore,
You can find the lost around you,
You can help them at your door;
If you cannot give your thousands,
You can give the widow’s mite;
What you truly give for Jesus
Will be precious in His sight.

3. Let none hear you idly saying,
“There is nothing I can do,”
While the lost of earth are dying,
And the Master calls for you;
Take the task He gives you gladly;
Let His work your pleasure be;
Answer quickly when He calls you,
“Here am I, send me, send me.”

THIS BLOG REPEATED FROM MAY 23, 2007 – HYMN ADDED