Here Am I!
by C. T. Studd

"Open thy mouth wide," says God, "and I will fill it," "Ask and receive that your joy may be full," said Christ. "Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing," said the Psalmist–When? When "the Lord had done GREAT THINGS for them whereof they were glad." Godly laughter and the joy unspeakable are the result of the attempt of the impossible by faith in God. Did Christ chide any for the greatness of their faith? What of His words of admiration, "verily I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." And again, "O woman, great is thy faith, be it done unto thee even as thou wilt."

And if we refuse this His will, at will He think of the hypocrisy of our daily prayer, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven"? Will He not answer, "Why call ye ME Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say"?

How shall we presently face The Almighty, if on earth we have been saying: "This work He has commanded is too great for our God." Perchance we magnify our so-called prudence and wisdom with a zeal HE will not own.

To be sure there are difficulties in the way, and risks to be run-thank God for them all–the more the merrier, says every real man amongst us. "I pray thee have me excused" is the badge of a coward. Send someone else, said Moses, and provoked the anger of God. Dare we?

Are we cowards then? Well! What should we say of a British soldier who refused to charge, and charge home?

Hark! "Here am I; send me," says one, but hastens to add, "But send me in some big missionary society with a fixed, if slender, salary and a doctor not far off who can look after my dear little constitution;" but he forgot to add, "and where I can have no chance of being a hero for Christ’s sake." To such the answer of God is already penned, "So He gave them according to their heart’s desire, but sent leanness into their souls."

"But what will papa say?" "What will mamma say?" perchance say others. Yea, rather what will THE FATHER and what will THE SAVIOUR say who bought them with His agony and blood? He will say as He said of old, for He changeth not: "If any man cometh unto Me and hateth not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters and his own life also HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE."

–From The Jehad of Jesus