Help Wanted

“Wanted, hearts baptized with fire,
Hearts completely cleansed from sin,
Hearts that will go to the mire,
Hearts that dare do aught for him;

Hearts that will be firmer, braver,
Hearts like heroes gone before,
Hearts enjoying God‘s full favor,
Hearts to love him more and more.”

John Lawley (1859-1922)



“Help Wanted” read the sign in the window of a Syracuse, New York grocery store in 1955. It attracted the interest of many young men who were desperately looking for work. Some were of school age and others were older persons with responsibilities and families to support.

The owner of the store had taken many dozens of applications and was having difficulty deciding who the best candidate would be. To his dismay, none of the applicants seemed to be the 'right one' for the position.
He was looking for someone who demonstrated a desire to pursue the grocery business as a lifelong career. Of the applications he had received, it appeared that none met his criteria. He needed someone who would be willing to work many hours, learn all facets of the business and devote his life to the success of the store; with a view toward one day being in full charge.

One day a youth about 18 years old applied for the position. During the interview he said to the owner, “Sir, I will do everything it takes to become the best employee you have. I am willing to take any position and I am willing to learn whatever is required.” The owner explained to this young man that he would have to start out as a stock clerk, but there would be room for advancement if he could prove himself. He told the boy that he would be with him each step of the way, giving him the needed instruction and encouragement to succeed…
if he was willing to make a total commitment to the task.

Excitedly, the young man told the owner that he would have his full commitment to the success of the business. He was hired on the spot!

There is a sense in which there is posted outside many of our churches today, a "Help Wanted‟ sign. God is calling people who are willing to make a full commitment to Him in Christian service. Our Lord is telling us that if we are willing to do what is required, He will walk with us each step of the way, providing the necessary instruction, encouragement, and favor so that we might succeed; first in our personal Christian walk and then in our personal service to Him.

There is no greater calling than the calling to Christian mission. That calling may lead many of you down different paths of service. Whatever those paths may be; one thing is for certain…God has a plan for your life and discovering that plan, and responding to it, will be an exciting adventure unparalleled by any other you might experience in life.

God is looking for hearts baptized with fire; people whose hearts have been cleansed from sin and are willing to go into the mire of this world, as thousands have before. God will bestow His favor and blessing upon those willing to make this commitment. Great miracles will flow from the consecrated hearts of Gods people who are willing to do His bidding.