September 15

"Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Acts 9:6.

This is a very marvellous question, considering from whom it came. For the inquirer, till now, had hated the name of Jesus, and was at this very time actually engaged in the persecution of his followers. What would he have thought if some one could have told him previously, that in a few hours, in a few moments, he would be a worshipper at the feet of the Nazarene? But so it was; and he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?

Let us never despair. The chief of sinners are within his reach. He has a mighty arm; strong is his hand, and high is his right hand. What changes has his grace already accomplished, and what changes must it accomplish still, if the promise is to be fulfilled. "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign, that shall not be cut off!" But let us make this inquiry our own. It is every way worthy of our adoption.

It is personal in its aim. "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Many seem more anxious to reprove others than to know their own faults, and are busily employed in pulling the mote out of their brother's eye, while a beam is in their own. Some are always reading and hearing for others. And we have known persons applying, in a sermon, to some fellow-worshipper things which every one else in the assembly would have deemed most proper for their own use. We should think of ourselves in divine things, and bring home every truth to our own business and bosoms, whether it encourages or censures. We should pray, Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any evil way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. When our Lord had informed Peter of his duty and destiny, Peter saw John coming towards him, and asked, Lord, and what shall this man do? But our Saviour said, What is that to thee? follow thou me.

It is practical in its subject. "What wilt thou have me to do?" Not to know, to hear, to believe, to talk of. Religion indeed extends to every thing, but every thing is not essential to it. But practice is indispensable. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. Faith, without works, is dead, being alone. Though a man say he hath faith, and hath not works, can faith save him? Every part of the truth as it is in Jesus has a bearing upon the heart and the life of the receiver, and is according to godliness.

It is impartial in its desire. "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" I do not prescribe; I do not select; I do not prefer. Thy pleasure alone I ask to know, and am resolved to follow. Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth. True obedience is compatible with defects, but not with partialities. If a man regards some things and not others in religion, those he regards he regards from some other motive than the will of God, for this would lead him to regard the one as well as the other, seeing they are all enjoined by the very same authority. He that offends in one point is guilty of all, not in the act, but in the principle; he violates the authority of the whole. For he that said, Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, said also, Enter into thy closet. If, therefore, you engage in public worship, and never retire for devotion, you are an offender. "He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill: now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law." We never can truly obey, therefore, unless we can say, with David, "I esteem all thy commandments concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way."