Don’t Wait

I know the title of this article may seem strange, especially since not long ago I wrote about waiting upon God. The reality is that while a believer is certainly called to patiently trust God’s will and meditate deeply upon His truths, when God calls him to labor for the kingdom, he must not tarry! How often does the Lord lead us to give to someone in need, only for us to delay by convincing ourselves the timing is not right, promising to give when our finances improve? How often has the Spirit prompted us to speak of Christ, but we brush it aside and talk only of sports or the weather instead?

Years ago, I served as a youth pastor at a Free Will Baptist church in Timmonsville, South Carolina. I was busy running a bus route, visiting, teaching, and planning activities. During that time, the Lord impressed upon my heart to write a letter to my relatives in North Carolina. Many of my cousins were not believers, and I knew He wanted me to write to them about His love and grace. Sadly, I kept putting it off. How ironic it was that I told myself I was too busy with ministry to do it! Eventually, God convicted me, showing how I was letting fear dictate my service. I finally wrote to my family, imploring them to follow Christ. The letter was not eloquent, but I poured out my heart and mailed it.

Only a few days later, I received a call from my mother. She told me my cousin Mickey had died tragically. He was only thirty one. I had no idea that just over a week after sending those letters, I would end up preaching my cousin’s funeral. Did he read it? I do not know. But I carry the burden of knowing I stubbornly hesitated instead of immediately obeying God’s will. David declared in Psalm 119:59-60, “I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.” May we all have such a heart of haste in obeying the Spirit’s leading!