Lord, what will You have me to do?

Charles Spurgeon, "Pressing Questions of an Awakened Mind"

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Acts 9:6, "Lord, what will You have me to do?"

You must yield universal obedience to the Lord Jesus, even if it should separate you from all your family and friends. Let it sever the nearest ties, let it cause your past friends to give you the cold shoulder, let it subject you to persecution even unto death; you have nothing to do with these consequences, your business is to say, "Show me what You would have me to do, and I will do it."

I mention a little incident in my own personal history, for which I have always had reason to thank God. When I was converted, the very first thing I did was to read the New Testament, to understand what the Lord would have me to do. I found the duty of believers' baptism in the Word of God. I had not even heard of the existence of Baptists, until after I had for myself discovered this truth. And taking up the New Testament with my lexicon to see what the word meant, I found that the word baptize signified to immerse. When I read the Scriptures, I found everywhere that believers were immersed. I did not at first know of the existence of another person who held that opinion, but it did not matter to me any more than the turn of a hair. I was only afraid that I might not find anybody to baptize me, but I meant to attend to the duty in some way or other. I discovered afterwards that there were many who had searched the Scriptures and had come to the same conclusion as myself. And to me, it seemed like turning my back on all the Christian people that I knew.

Have I ever regretted the step? Never! Unimportant as some might think it--this gave to my whole spirit and life a tone for which I have reason to thank God. I had stood upon my own feet, having read the Bible for myself. I took my own way in obedience to my Lord and Master, and from that day I know not that I have willfully turned aside from His statutes, either in doctrines or in precepts, but I have taught the faith as I have learned it for myself in Scripture.

When I go to my chamber at night with a thousand imperfections to confess--yet I can feel that I have honestly and faithfully followed my Master. If I have erred, then it has been from lack of light, and not from lack of desire to serve Him. But if I had hushed that first conviction, and if I had made little nicks in my conscience at first, then I could not stand before you this night and declare that I have not shunned both to do and to declare the whole counsel of God!

I charge everyone, as soon as they believe in Christ, to read and search the Bible for himself, and say, "Show me what You would have me to do." I would rather be right, alone; than be wrong with all the world. Every honest Christian ought to feel that he would rather follow Jesus with two or three, than run with a multitude after the traditions of men.

May God help you, beloved, as soon as you are converted, to become thoroughly obedient disciples, searching the Word yourselves. I do not set so much importance upon the result of your investigation, as I do upon the investigation itself. I care less about the result you arrive at, than I do for the spirit which would lead you, as a disciple of Jesus, to earnestly desire to follow your Master, and would lead you to do everything that you believe to be His will--in the little as well as the great. May the Lord help us to be concerned to know and do His will in all things, fearless of consequences.