Tempted to put off what needs to be done today?

Get Up For Jesus

One of my favorite ‘Napoleon’ stories is about the time the Emperor-General allegedly paid a surprise nighttime visit to a vital battlefield outpost. Stealthily he moved along as one sentry after another challenged him to identify himself. Finally, Napoleon arrived at a key spot where there seemed to be no sentry to challenge him.

The wily warrior is said to have come closer until he saw a pair of army boots protruding from under a shock of corn and a rifle propped beside them. He made no comment … just picked up the gun and himself stood guard, waiting for the snoozing soldier to awaken.

At last there was a stirring beneath the corn. Up jumped the guilty defender, reaching for the gun that was gone. Imagine his confusion turning to chagrin. What a bitter experience it must have been to be caught napping by Napoleon while on duty.

How much more so for us to be caught napping when our Commander returns to the scene of the battle for souls. I’m reminded of a song familiar to most of us, written by George Duffield, Jr. in 1858, and paraphrased by the renowned (and occasionally humorous) missionary to China, C. T. Studd (1860-1931):

“Get up, get up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the Cross

A lazy Sunday morning surely means harm and loss;

The Church of God is calling; in duty be not slack;

You cannot fight the good fight while lying on your back.”

It is tempting on a beautiful autumn morning to put off until tomorrow what needs to be done today. I know. I was thinking about doing it myself a short while ago. I’m also thinking that Charles Thomas, known for his skills as both cricketer and missionary, might smile if he knew his sense of humor got me up and kept me going today. I hope it does the same for you.