This business o f the Christian’s will
Submitting Out Desires b y Arthur Hedley
H ugh Redwood, who was for many years the relig ious news editor of a leading Eng lish newspaper, tells how, after his conversion, he greatly desired to become a preacher of the gospel. But when about to resign his post as night editor he made an im portant discovery. He found the es sential thing was not what he de sired to do but what God desired him to do. When he was ready to sacrifice every personal desire that he might do God’s will the situation was transformed. He discovered that God intended he should witness for him through his profession as a journalist. To his amazement his editor sent for him and said, “Hugh, I want you to write a short relig ious message every day for our pa per.” For a number of years these .daily messages appeared bringing guidance, comfort and assurance to many souls. Then came the call to be the religious editor of the same paper. Every day brought to his office many letters from souls seeking prayer, advice and knowl edge as to the way of salvation. Because Hugh Redwood could say “ . . . Lord, all my desire is before thee . . .” (Ps. 38:9) and his supreme desire was to walk in the way of God’s will, he has been mightily used of God as a journal ist, an author of Christian books and as a lay preacher who has preached the gospel in cathedrals and in a large number of churches throughout Britain. How necessary it is to lay our desires before the Lord, to see whether they are in line with His will. However good and noble our
desire may be, it is possible that it is not God’s desire for us. So many have followed the desires of their own hearts only to find in later years that they made a tragic mistake. Failure to question the desires of our hearts before God may bring lifelong sorrow and suf fering. We shall save ourselves much disappointment, remorse and anxiety if on bended knee we lay our desires before Him to learn whether they have His sanction and benediction. Soon after their conversion many young people have a great desire, to be wholly engaged in Christian service as a minister, missionary, evangelist or deaconness. Truly these are noble desires. To be wholly occupied in helping other souls Christward and heavenward is a blessed vocation. It used to be the prayer of godly Scottish parents that one son might become a min ister of the Word, and many of Scotland’s greatest ministers and missionaries were bom of such par ents. “ This is a true saying,” says Paul, “ If a man desire the office of a bishop [overseer or pastor], he desireth a good work” (1 Tim. 3:1). It is possible, however, that our noblest desires may not be in har mony with God’s will for us. King David desired to build a magnifi cent temple to the glory of God but this was not in line with God’s will: “ . . . Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was About the Author The Rev. Arthur Hedley is no new name to our readers. Over the years he has contributed many articles to The King's Business. His home is in Dunstable, Beds, England.
in thine heart” (1 Ki. 8:18). Our heavenly Father is pleased when He reads the unselfish desires and aspirations of those who love to serve Him but often He has to say: “ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways . . .” (Isa. 55:8). Thus He said to David, “Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name” (2 Chr. 6:9). Many young people following the desire of their hearts to be a minister or missionary have found to their sorrow later, that they were not called of God and lacked the necessary spiritual gifts. In many cases they followed the desire of their parents who were able to give the necessary material assistance. In my youth I was greatly influ enced by a zealous Methodist who was a valiant witness for Christ. He was the leader of any open air meeting outside the huge govern ment arsenal where we both worked. I owe so much under God to that man, for his fine example inspired me to take my stand by his side and to witness for Christ before my fellow artisans. Some years later, after I had left the dis trict, he had a great desire to be come a city missionary and man aged to secure an appointment with a London mission. Returning to my home town after a long absence I met this Christian brother and he said, very frankly, “ I made a mis take when I gave up my job in the arsenal for I found when I became a city missionary I was not quali fied for it, and so I resigned.” When I met him he had been unemployed CONTINUED
JULY, 1956
19
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker