October 1, 2005

Have faith in God –
No silver hoard;
Have faith in God –
His Son adored;
Have faith in God –
In love restored.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

Lord, Speak to Me

Francis Ridley Havergal, 1839-1879

    We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20.

    As Christ's personal ambassadors, we should be people of double resolve: To hear what God has to say to us and then to share that message with others.

Use me, God, in Thy great harvest field,
Which stretcheth far and wide like a wide sea;
The gatherers are so few; I fear the precious yield
Will suffer loss. Oh, find a place for me!
                                                ~Christina Rossetti~

    Effective service must always begin with prayer--asking God to use us to accomplish His eternal purposes in the lives of others. But we must not dictate to our Lord as to how and when we should be used. We are simply to be available whenever He directs in a particular situation. Then our representation for Him is simply to speak His truth boldly but always in love. Imploring lost people to be reconciled to God is far different from merely engaging them in theological arguments. We must always remember that the real need of people is to hear about the historical Christ as a personal Saviour and Lord and to be guided to a living and vital relationship with Him.
    Frances Ridley Havergal, the author of this text, has often been called the "consecration poet" because of her deep commitment to Christ. This text first appeared in 1872 in leaflet form with the title "A Worker's Prayer", accompanied by the saying, "For no man lives unto himself and none dies to himself." These words have since been widely used in leading others to a deeper consecration of their lives to God.

Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou has sought, so let me seek
Thine erring children lost and lone.

O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.

O strengthen me, that while I stand
Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.

O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.

O give Thine own sweet rest to me,
That I may speak with soothing power
A word in season, as from Thee,
To weary ones in needful hour.

O fill me with Thy fullness, Lord,
Until my very heart overflow
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.

O use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,
Until Thy blessèd face I see,
Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share.

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission