WILL YOU GO EMPTY HANDED?
“You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil......". John 15:16 (MSG)
"....None of you are to appear before Me empty-handed". Exodus 34:20 (AMP)
One of my favourite hymn on Christian service and soul winning is an old hymn titled "Must I go empty handed?". The hymn was composed by Evangelist C. C Luther in 1877 after he heard a preacher narrating the story of a young man who was about to die after he had been a Christian for only one month. Although, he was grateful to God for the salvation of his soul towards the end of his days on earth, but he was not happy that he never had enough opportunity to share the gospel with others. This deep burden must have made the young convert to make the following thought provoking statements before he eventually passed on: “I am not afraid to die; Jesus saves me now. But must I go empty handed?”
Ever since I read the lyrics of that great hymn, I can hardly go a week without asking myself the same old question that the young man posed to himself several years ago. The young convert's question summarizes the heart beat of God which must be the top priority of every genuine believer as the countdown to the end of age has began.
Unfortunately, many of us have been saved for years without a handful of converts in the kingdom. Our heads, pockets, wardrobes and shoe racks are full but our hands are completely empty or partially empty. People are hailing us but God is grieved that we are approaching eternity empty-handed. We have many ordination certificates and academic qualifications but as far as God is concerned some of us are a bunch of fruitless christians occupying space in the kingdom. Many people even address us with big titles like Choir Leader, Chief Usher, Deacon, Deaconess, Pastor, Evangelist, Bishop etc but if we should appear before our master today, He would see nothing but empty hands.
Beloved, please be sincere with yourself. Are you heading to Heaven empty-handed? Are your hands full or empty? What have you got to show the Lord for all the years He has saved you? What have you done with all the days you have spent on earth? When your sojourn on earth is eventually over, will you appear before your Saviour empty-handed? Or will you show God your many worldly perishable fruits/achievements like ordination certificates, academic qualifications, expensive rings/jewelries and wristwatches, lovely wears and shoes, posh automobiles and fat bank accounts? Or will you appear before the Lord with things of eternal worth which is countless souls of men that the Holy Spirit has won into His kingdom through you? The choice is yours and I hope you will choose wisely so that you will not end your journey with regret.
May I urge you to please join me this beautiful Thursday morning to prayerfully meditate on the wordings of that lovely hymn below as we trust God to kindle a fresh fire for soul winning in our heart again:
MUST I GO EMPTY HANDED?
“Must I go, and empty handed,”
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?
Chorus:
“Must I go, and empty handed?”
Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him,
Must I empty handed go?
Not at death I shrink or falter,
For my Savior saves me now;
But to meet Him empty handed,
Thought of that now clouds my brow.
O the years in sinning wasted,
Could I but recall them now,
I would give them to my Savior,
To His will I'd gladly bow.
O ye saints, arouse, be earnest,
Up and work while yet 'tis day;
Ere the night of death o'er take thee,
Strived for souls while still you may.
My prayers for you and my humble self today is that God will unleash upon us unquenchable passion for souls and deep burden to share the gospel, so that rather than living a life of vanity that will later be regretted, we shall redeem our time now and bear fruit unto eternal life (John 4:36). May we receive the grace to be committed and consistent soul-winners everywhere we find ourselves.
Good morning and do have a blessed day full of ceaseless flow of new things that befits your destiny in Christ Jesus.
Maranatha!
Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo
For more articles please visit - http://okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com
Follow on Twitter: @tammytaiwo
Follow on instagram @lawontaiwo
“You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil......". John 15:16 (MSG)
"....None of you are to appear before Me empty-handed". Exodus 34:20 (AMP)
One of my favourite hymn on Christian service and soul winning is an old hymn titled "Must I go empty handed?". The hymn was composed by Evangelist C. C Luther in 1877 after he heard a preacher narrating the story of a young man who was about to die after he had been a Christian for only one month. Although, he was grateful to God for the salvation of his soul towards the end of his days on earth, but he was not happy that he never had enough opportunity to share the gospel with others. This deep burden must have made the young convert to make the following thought provoking statements before he eventually passed on: “I am not afraid to die; Jesus saves me now. But must I go empty handed?”
Ever since I read the lyrics of that great hymn, I can hardly go a week without asking myself the same old question that the young man posed to himself several years ago. The young convert's question summarizes the heart beat of God which must be the top priority of every genuine believer as the countdown to the end of age has began.
Unfortunately, many of us have been saved for years without a handful of converts in the kingdom. Our heads, pockets, wardrobes and shoe racks are full but our hands are completely empty or partially empty. People are hailing us but God is grieved that we are approaching eternity empty-handed. We have many ordination certificates and academic qualifications but as far as God is concerned some of us are a bunch of fruitless christians occupying space in the kingdom. Many people even address us with big titles like Choir Leader, Chief Usher, Deacon, Deaconess, Pastor, Evangelist, Bishop etc but if we should appear before our master today, He would see nothing but empty hands.
Beloved, please be sincere with yourself. Are you heading to Heaven empty-handed? Are your hands full or empty? What have you got to show the Lord for all the years He has saved you? What have you done with all the days you have spent on earth? When your sojourn on earth is eventually over, will you appear before your Saviour empty-handed? Or will you show God your many worldly perishable fruits/achievements like ordination certificates, academic qualifications, expensive rings/jewelries and wristwatches, lovely wears and shoes, posh automobiles and fat bank accounts? Or will you appear before the Lord with things of eternal worth which is countless souls of men that the Holy Spirit has won into His kingdom through you? The choice is yours and I hope you will choose wisely so that you will not end your journey with regret.
May I urge you to please join me this beautiful Thursday morning to prayerfully meditate on the wordings of that lovely hymn below as we trust God to kindle a fresh fire for soul winning in our heart again:
MUST I GO EMPTY HANDED?
“Must I go, and empty handed,”
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?
Chorus:
“Must I go, and empty handed?”
Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him,
Must I empty handed go?
Not at death I shrink or falter,
For my Savior saves me now;
But to meet Him empty handed,
Thought of that now clouds my brow.
O the years in sinning wasted,
Could I but recall them now,
I would give them to my Savior,
To His will I'd gladly bow.
O ye saints, arouse, be earnest,
Up and work while yet 'tis day;
Ere the night of death o'er take thee,
Strived for souls while still you may.
My prayers for you and my humble self today is that God will unleash upon us unquenchable passion for souls and deep burden to share the gospel, so that rather than living a life of vanity that will later be regretted, we shall redeem our time now and bear fruit unto eternal life (John 4:36). May we receive the grace to be committed and consistent soul-winners everywhere we find ourselves.
Good morning and do have a blessed day full of ceaseless flow of new things that befits your destiny in Christ Jesus.
Maranatha!
Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo
For more articles please visit - http://okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com
Follow on Twitter: @tammytaiwo
Follow on instagram @lawontaiwo
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