Another week with quotes from Hudson Taylor’s autobiography, comprised of various journal entries and writings!

If you are thinking of taking the One Year Challenge, Taylor and missionaries like him (William Carey, Jonathan Goforth, etc…) are excellent examples to learn from. Their strength was not in worldly talents, but absolute faith in the word and power of God.

“we should never lose sight of the higher aspect of our work—that of obedience to God, of bringing glory to His Name, of gladdening the heart of our God and Father by living and serving as His beloved children.”
“I have grown older since then, but not wiser. I am more than ever convinced that if we were to take the directions of our Master and the assurances He gave to His first disciples more fully as our guide, we should find them to be just as suited to our times as to those in which they were originally given.”

― James Hudson Taylor, The Autobiography of Hudson Taylor: Missionary to China

This week we continue with quotes from Hudson Taylor’s autobiography, comprised of various journal entries and writings.

If you are thinking of taking the One Year Challenge, there are several blessed lessons to learn from these examples who have given their whole life to the mission!

“It was to me a very grave matter, however, to contemplate going out to China, far away from all human aid, there to depend upon the living God alone for protection, supplies, and help of every kind.”
“I thought to myself, “When I get out to China, I shall have no claim on any one for anything; my only claim will be on God.”
“I found myself possessed of only a single coin—one half-crown piece. Still I had hitherto had no lack, and I continued in prayer.”

― James Hudson Taylor, The Autobiography of Hudson Taylor: Missionary to China

Below are quotes from Hudson Taylor’s autobiography, comprised of various journal entries and writings. Taylor is one of the most influential missionaries, and considered a father of modern missions. He went to China at a young age and faced countless barriers, persecution and obstacles, yet persisted faithfully by the power of the LORD.

If you are thinking of taking the One Year Challenge, there are several blessed lessons to learn from these examples who have given their whole life to the mission!

“My experience was that the less I spent on myself and the more I gave away, the fuller of happiness and blessing did my soul become. Unspeakable joy all the day long, and every day, was my happy experience.”

“And I will go! I may no longer doubt to give up friends, and idol hopes, And every tie that binds my heart. . . . Henceforth, then, it matters not, if storm or sunshine be my earthly lot, bitter or sweet my cup; I only pray, God, make me holy, And my spirit nerve for the stern hour of strife.”

― James Hudson Taylor, 

The Autobiography of Hudson Taylor: Missionary to China

From Ferguson and Shaw’s book, “Golden Rule Leadership”. If you are thinking about taking the One Year Challenge, one of the goals on your mind may be to make an impact for the Kingdom. And the question that naturally follows is, “How?”

This book is great for the aspiring leader of men and women’s hearts. Applying principles from Jesus’ example and teaching to our leadership today.

We need to be honest about the nature of and differences in our gifts, as described in Romans 12:3-8. Leadership is a gift of God, as are the other gifts that are mentioned. Gifts are just that — gifts. We do not earn them nor deserve them, nor are we superior because we have them. If we rely on them in a prideful manner, gifts become obstacles to our own growth and to seeing our need for others. For example, I have a reasonably good intellect (although my mind’s computer is definitely slowing down with age!) Why? From a divine perspective, it is because of God’s gift. But from a human perspective, it is principally because of my gene pool. I could just as easily been born with a low IQ or with significant learning disabilities. The fact that I have good learning capabilities has nothing to do with my value at all. If 1 Corinthians 12 teaches anything, it is that in the family of God, no one is inferior and no one is superior.

What an important lesson to learn as disciples. The younger we can straighten this our not just in our minds, but deeply in our hearts, then we can began to view people in a way closer to Christ, with a humility that God gives and that makes us available to treat others better than ourselves.

If you are thinking of taking the One Year Challenge, consider picking up a copy of Golden Rule Leadership. The mission may have to wait in some ways while the Coronavirus is at large, but our heart preparation should continue!

From Ferguson and Shaw’s book, “Golden Rule Leadership”. If you are thinking about taking the One Year Challenge, one of the goals on your mind may be to make an impact for the Kingdom. And the question that naturally follows is, “How?”

This book is great for the aspiring leader of men and women’s hearts. Applying principles from Jesus’ example and teaching to our leadership today.

Pouring our lives into people as we bring them to Chris is one of life’s most fulfilling tasks, replete with rejoicing. Watching them fall away brings us to the other end of the emotional scale. Building wisely is one of the greatest needs in set before us. If we build unwisely, according to Paul, what we build will not survive. A number of different words might be employed to describe wise building, but “balance” is one of the best…

The key leadership consideration in winning others to Christ is in seeing the difference between “getting baptisms” and making disciples. At one end of the spectrum is the call to win as many as possible (1 Corinthians 9:19), and at the other end is Jesus’ charge to make disciples (Matthew 28:19).

From the book “Golden Rule Leadership”, by Gordon Ferguson and Wyndham Shaw. This week we zoom in on the measurement of success in leadership.

When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:24-28)

Working off of this scripture, Ferguson and Shaw bring the following conclusions:

We see that true greatness of leadership is determined not by how many are “under” our leadership, but how many we serve as leaders. The serving in Matthew 20 was of the most demeaning variety: the washing of feet, a gesture of hospitality normally performed by a household slave. Too often, we leaders stay very busy doing good things, but we often limit ourselves to what is easiest for us, rather than what calls us out of our comfort zones. Further, we may find it far more convenient to serve certain types of people than others. Jesus was clearly most attracted to the needs of the downtrodden in society; we, however, may be attracted to persons at the other end of the scale. Let’s all evaluate ourselves on this important point, for a worldly view and use of leadership is not restricted to those early disciples.

As followers of Christ, and especially as leaders for others, whether it be a congregation or a few friends, we will be defined not by our knowledge but by our love.

If you are thinking of taking the One Year Challenge, consider that the challenge is not just going to another place, but to take up the call and imitate Christ in service to God’s people!

“Golden Rule Leadership”. Highly recommended to anyone in ministry leadership or aspiring to be, this book takes a deep look into Jesus’ example and the golden rule of Luke 6:31.

So, the relationships in the church should be like those in an ideal family, If it is not, two tragedies occur: (1) people leave and (2) people stay but are not fired up about helping their friends and physical families become disciples. Mark it down: The sense of being loved, appreciated, accepted and esteemed does more to draw people and old people than anything we an think of. The greatest commands in the Word have to do with love. Love is greater than faith and greater than hope, and without it, nothing else really matters (1 Cor 13).

If you are thinking of taking the One Year Challenge, you would do well to consider how you can be a contribute to the family feeling wherever you go. The OYC sites ask for help for a reason; whether it be a new church plant, young campus ministry, or revitalizing a struggling church. How sweet it is when God’s people dwell in unity!

Still in “Humility” by Andrew Murray. This book is a classic for a reason.

“Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble.”

See more quotes from the book here.

“Humility” by Andrew Murray. This characteristic is at the heart of who Jesus Christ is.

• The humble man: “He can bear to hear others praised and himself forgotten…” (47)
• “In striving after the higher experiences of the Christian life, the believer is often in danger of aiming at and rejoicing in what one might call the more human virtues….While the deeper and gentler, the more divine and heavenly graces are scarcely thought of or valued. These virtues are those which Jesus first taught upon earth–because He brought them from heaven–those which are more distinctly connected with His cross and the death of self–poverty of spirit, meekness, humility, lowliness.” (47-48)
• “…it is not sin that humbles us most, but grace.” (6)

“Humility” by Andrew Murray. He claims it is the cardinal virtue, and sits at the cornerstone of who Jesus is. That he did not consider equality with God to be used to his advantaged, but humbled himself to become our servant.

“We will learn that we can never have more of true faith than we have of true humility.” (68)

“Humility is simply the disposition which prepares the soul for living on trust.” (68)

You can find the book on Amazon here.