“There are some dear people whom I must encourage to be a little more bold. We have some friends, here and there, to whom I could hint, only very gently, that they are quite forward enough, but there are many good people who always keep in the background. They might do so much for Christ if only they had a little courage! Do, dear Friends, break through the ice this year! If you have felt that you ought to do something for your Lord, and yet have never begun to do it, begin at once!
Do you ask, ‘What is the best way to try to serve Christ?’ Well, I think the best way is to
do it! ‘But how should I begin?’ Well, I would begin by beginning! ‘When shall I begin?’ Begin now! This very hour. ‘But in what way?’ In the first way that comes to hand—‘whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,’ for our text says, ‘
Arise, shine.’ If you have the light, emit it, distribute it, scatter it somehow or other!
Have pluck—that is a plain English word, but I do not know how to put my meaning better. Have pluck enough to come out and be a Christian—do not always be like a rat behind the wall, but come out and acknowledge yourself on Jesus’ Christ’s side and promote the everlasting Gospel wherever you have the opportunity!”
(C.H. Spurgeon, Sermon #2617, Volume 45—
Shining Christians)
