Some thoughts from Hudson Taylor
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| Some thoughts from Hudson Taylor |
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"This He said to prove them," John 6:6. Difficulties are sure to increase, but the power of the Lord is unlimited. When He asks you or me where we shall "buy bread" or how we shall solve this or that problem, it is only to prove us. He always knows "what he will do;" and if we wait His time, He will show us also. "As for God, His way is perfect," Ps 18:30. I know the ways of the Lord are ALL right, and I would not have them otherwise. He makes no mistakes. He can make none. Even now we accept with thankfulness His dealings, and soon, with joy, shall see the deep purposes of wisdom and love, wrought out by all that is so mysterious at present. "When I sent you..lacked ye anything? They said, Nothing," Luke 22:35. It has been wonderful and beautiful to see how the Lord has helped us. Our hearts have been kept in peace, knowing that God's promises cannot fail. And to the question, "Lacked ye anything?" we can only reply as did the disciples of old, "Nothing Lord." "He shall choose our inheritance for us," Ps. 47:4. Having carefully laid our plans and determined to carry them through, we may ask God to help us, and to prosper us in connection with them. Yet another way of working is to begin with God; to ask His plans, and to offer ourselves to Him to carry out His purposes. Going about it in this way, we have no responsibility save to follow as we are led. "Who gave Himself for our sins," Gal. 1:4. This great purpose was no afterthought brought on when Satan had marred God's beautiful creation. Far away in the distant ages of a past eternity the Father had one treasure - His well beloved Son. We are told of Him, "The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His way." "The hairs of your head are all numbered," Matt. 10:30. Mere common sense ought to tell us that He, whose way is perfect, can make no mistakes. That He, who has promised to perfect that which concerns us, and whose minute care counts the very hairs of our heads, and forms for us our circumstances - must know better than we do the way to forward our truest interests and to glorify His own Name. "Whatsoever is right, I will give you," Matt. 20:4. When His providential dispensations seem most dark and cloudy, or most contrary to our thoughts and our desires, there can be no question as to who is right. It is our thoughts and desires which must have been wrong; His plan for us - a perfect plan - can never fail. "Bid me come unto Thee on the water," Matt 14:28. Do not forget the importance of walking according to the light you have, while seeking for more. The eye of faith looks to Jesus and walks, in spite of wind and waves on the water. "Neither know we what to do; but our eyes are upon Thee," 2 Chron. 20:12. If God places me in much perplexity, must He not only give me much guidance? In positions of great difficulty, much grace? In circumstances of great pressure and trial, much strength? No fear that His resources will be unequal to the emergency! And His resources are mine, for HE is mine, and is with me, and dwells in me. "The Lord shall guide thee continually," Isa. 58:11. We leave the responsibility with the great Designer, and find His service one of sweet restfulness. We have no responsibility save to follow as we are led. We are called to follow One who is able both to design and to execute, and whose work never fails. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength," Isa. 40:31. May the Lord give us all the joy of realising that for His own name's sake, and for His own "credit's" sake, He will renew our strength as we wait upon Him. He will guide us during the whole pilgrim-life with His own infallible counsel, and then, when He has glorified Himself in us, will bring us safely to His own glory at last.
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