“….and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed” Deuteronomy 16.16

Beloved

Do you have a clue of the rationale behind the Anthem titled “Must I go empty-handed? It appears from researches that it was all about a 30 years old man who was seriously sick and lying on his bed. A month before his death, he accepted Jesus as his Saviour. One day, to a friend of his who found him anxious and enquired why, the sick man answered. “That I’m going to die does not scare me. But shall I really go empty-handed?”

Those words and the circumstances surrounding their pronunciation inspired to C. A. Daniel the English words of the Anthem. Hereafter is the first verse and the refrain:

Must I go, and empty-handed

Thus my dear Redeemer meet?

Not one day of service give Him

Lay no trophy at His feet?

Refrain

Must I go, and empty-handed

Must I meet my Saviour so?

Not one soul with which to greet Him

Must I empty-handed go?

The words of that anthem clearly point out your solemn responsibility to announce Gospel around you, to your family, work colleagues, clients, supervisors or servants. Before the Lord, it won’t be possible for you to escape while you are empty-handed. Salvation of souls is the prime responsibility of all Redeemed of Jesus of whom you are one.

Stop considering this is the exclusive mandate of pastors and evangelists. It is your business as well and for many reasons. Do you cross your hands while the harvest is big and there are but few workers? Do you think the mission does not involve you?

One day, a man died and found himself before the tribunal of God. He said to God: “You know well, Lord, you that probe hearts and thoughts of man, that never in my life have I done evil and I have done all I thought was the best in my life and that my hands are clean….” God then responded to him: “Your hands might be clean but they are altogether empty”

No one shall come before the lord empty-handed. Therefore my dear friend, you need to sow everywhere good seed by gaining souls for the Kingdom of God.

Be blessed from God

Happy week