Today is William Wilberforce Day.
William Wilberforce was an English politician and philanthropist who lived from 1759 to 1833. A native of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, he became the independent Member of Parliament for Yorkshire. In 1785, he became an Evangelical Christian, a spiritual journey that changed his life. He started to rise early to read the Bible and pray. His conversion led Wilberforce to question whether he should remain in public life, but he resolved to do so with increased diligence and conscientiousness. His desire was to promote Christianity and Christian ethics.
"It makes no sense to take the name of Christian and not cling to Christ. Jesus is not some magic charm to wear like a piece of jewelry we think will give us good luck. He is the Lord. His name is to be written on our hearts in such a powerful way that it creates within us a profound experience of His peace and a heart that is filled with His praise."
Happy William Wilberforce Day!
