If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31)
Hudson Taylor was an Englishman who, as a young man, went to China to be a missionary. Upon arriving there, he discovered that although the ministry of preaching the gospel was taking place in the coastal cities, nobody was going into the vast interior of China to spread God’s message of love and salvation. He was so concerned about this that he wrote, “Can Christians sit still with folded arms while these multitudes in China are perishing?”
Some tried to persuade Taylor to remain in the coastal towns. Others told him that it was too dangerous for him to go into the interior. In response Taylor said, “If God is for me, who can be against me?”
Taylor made the journey into the interior of China alone. He began dressing like the Chinese. He even let his hair grow and braided it like the Chinese men did at that time. Taylor also spent long hours learning the Chinese language in order to preach in the language of those he felt God had directed him to minister to. Because of his energetic efforts, the China Inland Mission was founded. At the time of his death in 1905, this mission reportedly had 205 stations with 849 missionaries scattered throughout inland China. Through its ministry, 125,000 Chinese proclaimed faith in Jesus Christ. How was Taylor able to accomplish this? God was on his side!
When God leads you to do something, trust Him to go before you.
Jim “Umfundisi” Lo is the author of Connect with God: The Purpose of Prayer(WPH).
