This letter has been sent out instead of the October “In His Harvest Fields.”
It will speak for itself if you will prayerfully read it through.
I have thought it best to give it a prominent place in November “A Message from God.” I want all our friends to realize our great need of guidance now.
The Letter.
The Bible and Testament Depot,
12 and 14, Gandy Street, Exeter, England.
October, 1932.
MY VERY DEAR FRIENDS, —At a time when the demand for the word of God is almost unprecedented, we are obliged to lessen our order for Testaments by one half.
At a time when workers in almost every land are eagerly appealing for Testaments and Booklets to distribute, we are obliged to lessen the size of our parcels.
At a time when our Lord may come at any moment to call His people home to be with Himself — when every laborer in every harvest-field may be called to rest, his day’s work done, we have to lament with tears of grief, our inability to do more to help them now.
At a time when Satan is going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, a paralysis seems settling down upon the work of God, and upon many of the people of God. The deadly fascination of sin and worldliness seems to be lulling many into the sleep of indifference, while still the call rings loudly, “Occupy ‘till I come,” and “The night cometh when no man can work” (John 9:44I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. (John 9:4)).
The Pause in Our Work.
There is a pause in our work, and a great question arises that presses for an answer. The question is: Shall I go on, or shall I forbear?
This question must be answered, and it must be answered by God.
This morning I was in deep exercise of soul about the work God has given me to do.
The devil told me I was old and worn, and could do no more.
I remembered David, and read Psalms 71. The cry of a heart in a day of weakness — an appeal from earth to heaven. Read verse 1: “In Thee O Lord, do I put my trust, let me never be put to confusion.” Read verse 5: “For Thou art my hope O Lord God: Thou art my trust from my youth.” As David cries, the light of deliverance begins to dawn — for the heart that trusts in God is strengthened by God; and so we hear David say: “I will go in the strength of the Lord God.”... “Thou that hast shown me great and sore troubles shalt quicken me again.”... “I will trust Thee; I will praise Thee.”... “I will rejoice when I sing unto Thee.” “My tongue also shall talk of Thy righteousness all the day long.”... So at the close of this beautiful Psalm we see a trusting, praising, rejoicing and singing man, declaring that his tongue shall talk of the righteousness of God all the day long.
This was cheer indeed for me, for what God had done for one man He could do for another if it were His will. Praising, I turned the leaves of my Bible, and at once, without searching, God gave me these words, Isaiah 41:10: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God.” (Not only David’s God, but thy God.) “I will strengthen thee, yea, I will keep thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
“It is enough, my God,” I cried. “Thy promises in Him are yea and amen to the glory of God by us.”
So, my dear friends, the pause remains in my work, and this is my message, given by God I trust, to you this month. This is “In His Harvest Fields” for October. I await the response of my Christian friends to this letter. Will you go to God for me and with me concerning the needs of this work? Shall we kneel together, and cry to God together about it?
Yours affectionately in Christ,
Heyman Wreford.