LAY SERMONS by Eliza A. Otis

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 26, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 21.

LAY SERMONS.

By Eliza A. Otis

“And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest; it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”

We remember this story of Saul, who was on his way to Damascus, breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, and who, as he neared that ancient city, was stayed in his course by the bright light which shone from the heavens, and he fell speechless to the earth, hearing at the same time the voice which cried, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest; it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”

How often are we, like Saul, kicking “against the pricks,” rebelling against God’s dealings with us, and dissatisfied because God’s way is not as our way. If we look very carefully and seriously at ourselves, searching our hearts and the motives which govern us, we shall see how prone we are “to kick against the pricks,” or, in other words, to rebel against everything which conflicts with our desires and interferes with our hopes and purposes.

It is doubtful if there are many who accept with a full comprehension the meaning of those words of the Master, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” The little child is perfect in its trust, unquestioning in its love, ready to be led and guided, ready to follow wherever the parent’s feet shall tread. If we were like the little child in this, how different, how much more joyous, would our Christian life be! We should live close to the Saviour, should feel the very touch of His hand, the light of His smile, and the continued joy of His presence. Ah, how much of spiritual life and gladness we miss through failure to live near the Master, and to become as little children in our loving trust in Him!

We “kick against the pricks” whenever we struggle to have our own way in opposition to God’s way. We do so whenever we are unwilling to yield submissively to His providences, saying, If only things could be thus and so, then would I be content.

Struggling Christian, do you not believe in the wisdom and tender mercy of our Father? Does not He who sees the end from the beginning know what is best for His children, and will He not give them that which is best for them if they will but trust Him?

Trust is the powerful lever which lifts our hearts to heaven, and I want to say to you, O trouble-burdened soul, just try the method of trust when your heart is heavy! Say to yourself with the dawn of every new day, I will begin this day by taking my troubles to God. I will carry them to the mercy-seat, and I will lay them down, and I will leave them there. And then, if thought of them comes to disturb me again, I will say, I have nothing more to do with these troubles, for I have taken them to God in prayer, and I will not think of them any more, or feel any further anxiety about them, because I have put them away from me into His hands, believing that God will dispose of them in the way that will be best for me; and I am not going to dishonor Him by any further worry or anxiety about them. If you could do this, how soon would you feel the light shining from heaven—the light of God’s presence in your heart, and sing for very gladness that you are in His hands!

“A sacred burden is the life ye bear: Look on it, lift it, bear it solemnly; Stand up and walk beneath it steadily; Fail not for sorrow, falter not for sin, But on, and up, until the goal ye win.”

Peace is the goal, and nearer it we may Come day by day if we submissive pray; Sorrow can never walk the path we tread, When we through trust in Christ are forward led. —Eliza A. Otis, in Los Angeles Times.