Rhemalogy

Hudson Taylor established his China Inland Mission in 1865 on the premise that it would never solicit funds but simply trust God to supply its needs. While this policy may not be appropriate for every ministry, it provided Taylor with thousands of examples of God’s faithfulness, like this one described in a letter on November 18, 1857:

Many seem to think I am very poor. This is true enough in one sense, but I thank God it is “as poor, yet making many rich.” My God shall supply all my needs; to him be the glory. I would not, if I could, be otherwise than I am—entirely dependent myself upon the Lord, and used as a channel of help to others.

On Saturday we supplied, as usual, breakfast to the destitute poor, who came to the number of 70. Sometimes they do not reach 40, at other times exceeding 80. They come to us every day, Lord’s Day excepted, for then we cannot manage to attend to them and get through all our other duties, too. Well, on that Saturday morning we paid all expenses, and provided ourselves for the morrow, after which we had not a single dollar left between us. How the Lord was going to provide for Monday we knew not; but over our mantelpiece hung two scrolls in the Chinese character—Ebenezer, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us”; and Jehovah-Jireh, “The Lord will provide”—and he kept us from doubting for a moment. That very day the mail came in, a week sooner than was expected, and Mr. Jones received $214. We thanked God and took courage. On Monday the poor had their breakfast as usual, for we had not told them not to come, being assured that it was the Lord’s work, and that the Lord would provide. We could not help our eyes filling with tears of gratitude when we saw not only our own needs supplied, but the widow and the orphan, the blind and the lame, the friendless and the destitute, together provided for by the bounty of him who feeds the ravens.

Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all these. But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. (Matthew 6:31-33)

Robert J. Morgan, On This Day: 265 Amazing and Inspiring Stories About Saints, Martyrs & Heroes, electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, c1997). Nov. 17.

ALSO ON THIS DAY

1827 – Sixteen-year-old Henry Alford, who became a theologian, textual critic, hymn-writer, and dean of Canterbury, wrote in his Bible, “I do this day, as in the presence of God and my own soul, renew my covenant with God and solemnly determine henceforth to become His and to do His work as far as in me lies.”

1838 – Saxon immigrants sailed from Bremen on the ships Olbers and Amalia bound for America where they formed Lutheran churches and colleges in Midwestern states.

1852 – Rose Philippine Duchesne, a pioneer in Catholic education in the Louisiana territory died at St. Charles, Missouri. Late in life, she worked with American Indians, earned the nickname Quah-kah-ka-num-ad, “Woman-Who-Prays-Always.” Pope John Paul II canonized her in 1988.

Information retrieved from Christianhistoryinstitute.org.