ALL true gospel work is aggressive. It can be nothing else. The world is a battlefield, and God’s soldiers are called to active service. The enemy is ever on the alert, and the faithful soldier dare be nothing less. Yet the self-evident fact of true gospel work being aggressive, always aggressive, gets but a small place in the souls of God’s people. Probably every Christian at some time of his life lived out gospel aggressiveness — he or she sought to win souls with the soldier spirit; equally probable is it, that not one in a thousand maintains the true gospel spirit for any length of time.
Most have their practice days, but these are usually few and far between, and the work of many is often merely practice. Firing big guns is so expensive that their report is but seldom heard; but big guns, after all, do not slay as the sword, for, as in ancient warfare, the greatest slaughter falls to hand-to-hand fighting. Some eloquent teacher or mighty evangelist may at times utter his voice in our neighborhood, but, after all has been said, the great thing is to do our little work ourselves. So up to the work in village, town, and city, and whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might — put your whole soul into the work.
A Christian man was telling us the other day, that when God not long ago aroused him to the reality of the lost state of his neighbors, he first called upon the Christians he knew and asked their help. One said he had tried so often getting people to the chapel that he regarded such efforts as of no use. Others, whom he begged to open their houses or lend him their barns, only looked at him as an enthusiast. He went to the ministers near, they shrugged their shoulders; to the clergyman, who said he would consider the subject. At last the true idea entered our friend’s soul — working man he is, and with little ability — but he bethought him he would trust God and try himself, and the end — though God grant it is but a beginning — was that several open sinners were brought to the Lord Jesus Christ.
What would a colonel say to the privates in the regiment who, in the day of battle, left the actual fighting to the officers, as not being the special duty of the rank and file? Thank God for good officers, but every man to the work, and to his own particular work unto which he has been called by God.
Young people often make rushes at work; steady workers get through the most work in the long run. The woman who sought her lost piece of silver swept the house and sought diligently till she found it; and such work is carried on in the power of God’s Spirit. Those disciples who, guided by the Lord, were unable to draw their net for the multitude of fishes, had, before the draft, toiled all night and had caught nothing. “In due season ye shall reap if ye faint not,” says the scripture. But pieces of silver are not found without search, nor fishes caught without toil, nor does the harvest arise unless the seed be sown.
Every man to his duty, and never forget the Lord has appointed to each his work, and to you, yours. Find from Him what your work is and go forward. Go forward. Look for blessing; expect better things than have heretofore been received. It is a great thing in working to have a good heart. The more the difficulties, the more the victories. The more the enemies, the more the cause for courage. Be strong and of a good courage, and live for God and for eternity.