Simple Obedience

On a September morning in 1853, young Hudson Taylor departed England for Shanghai, China. He was just 21 years old, but possessed a God-given passion for the Chinese people. At that time there were only a few dozen missionaries bringing the gospel to this empire largely unknown to the west. During Hudson’s fifty year ministry, that would all change. Unlike the established missionary presence which largely kept to coastal areas, Hudson traveled deep into China’s interior. He eventually established the China Inland Mission (now known as Overseas Missionary Fellowship) which would sponsor over 1,000 new missionaries to China in Hudson’s lifetime. His lifetime of dedicated service continues to be an inspiration to Christians everywhere even today.

And now for the rest of the story… I wish I could tell you that God blessed Hudson with a life free of trouble as he ministered so tirelessly among the Chinese. Not so. Hudson contracted a serious illness, probably hepatitis, and was forced to return to England for an extended time. For the rest of his days, he would struggle with poor health. Hudson also suffered several long bouts of serious depression. His beloved wife died at age 33. Four of their eight children died before the age of ten. In 1900, exhausted and overwhelmed, Hudson suffered a complete physical and mental breakdown. His was no charmed life.

The Chinese church is most likely the fastest growing church on earth today. Largely underground due to oppressive government policies, it is estimated between 50 and 130 million Chinese are now believers. Much of the success in reaching the Chinese with the gospel is a result of the seeds sowed by Hudson Taylor in the nineteenth century. I wonder if he could have ever imagined how amazingly God would use his efforts.

We are called to be faithful in doing what God has called us to do. We are not given any guarantees or even insight as to the eventual success of our efforts. Our lives will not be free of problems and obstacles. Yet we are called to persevere, operating in faith that God will use our meager and faulty efforts to build His kingdom.

The prophets faced this same challenge. 1 Peter 1 tells us “It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you…” As the prophets recorded God’s words to them, it was not for themselves or their contemporaries, but for those of a future generation which would use their writings to confirm the messiah’s identity and finally recognize the plans of God. The prophets simply did as God asked, never seeing the fruit of their labor in their own lifetimes. It was obedience in faith.

Lon Solomon, an alumnus of my seminary, is the senior pastor of McLean Bible Church here in the Washington, D.C. area. Lon came to know Christ through a street preacher who maintained a faithful presence on a corner near Lon’s university. This man may have been unconventional at best, and a bit strange at worst, but his faithful efforts eventually won Lon’s attention and were used by God to bring him to a saving knowledge of Christ. Lon went on to seminary and eventually became the pastor of McLean. This church now serves thousands of members and effectively broadcasts the gospel over the radio airwaves. I doubt that street preacher could have ever foreseen how God would use that skinny, skeptical college student in the world as he introduced him to Christ. Of course he could not. He just did what God had called him to do and trusted God with the outcome.

What has God called you to do? It probably does not appear to be a world-impacting ministry. Our efforts rarely do. Like Hudson Taylor, we will face hardship and discouragement as we attempt to obey. Our responsibility is only to do what we are called to do. Simple obedience is all that is required. God will take our efforts and use them for his kingdom, generously allowing us to participate in his glorious cause.

“Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth… Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”
1 Corinthians 3:7-8, NASB