Priorities

“Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; 

don't stand back and let them die.

Don't try to avoid responsibility by saying you didn't know about it. 

For God knows all hearts, and he sees you. 

He keeps watch over your soul, and he knows you knew! 

And he will judge all people according to what they have done.

(Prov. 24:11, 12.)

"It is a solemn and most momentous truth that our every act in this present life – and our every omission too – has a direct and important bearing both on our future welfare, and on that of others. And as believers, it behooves us to do whatsoever we do in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

Those are the words of Hudson Taylor when he wrote a powerful book entitledand China's Spiritual Needs and Claims.  Hudson Taylor (1832 – 1905), was a British Protestant Christian missionary to China, and founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM) (now OMF International ). 

Taylor was known for his sensitivity to Chinese culture and zeal for evangelism. He adopted wearing native Chinese clothing even though this was rare among missionaries of that time. Under his leadership, the CIM was singularly non-denominational in practice and accepted members from all Protestant groups, including individuals from the working class and single women as well as multinational recruits. Primarily because of the CIM's campaign against the Opium trade, Taylor has been referred to as one of the most significant Europeans to visit China in the 19th Century. Historian Ruth Tucker summarises the theme of his life: “No other missionary in the nineteen centuries since the Apostle Paul has had a wider vision and has carried out a more systematised plan of evangelising a broad geographical area than Hudson Taylor."

Even though Hudson Taylor went on to be with Jesus more than 100 years ago, I believe his words still have importance for our day. I am sharing just a small number of them below in the hope that they will inspire and challenge you as they have me!

"The writer feels deeply that, as a faithful steward he is bound to bring the fact contained in these pages before the hearts and consciences of the Lord’s people. He believes, too, that these facts must produce some fruit in the heart of each Christian reader. The legitimate fruit will undoubtedly be – not vain words of empty sympathy, but – effectual fervent prayer, and strenuous self-denying effort for the salvation of the benighted Chinese. And if in any instance they fail to produce this fruit, the writer would urge the consideration of the solemn words at the head of this page, - “If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not He that pondereth the heart consider it? and He that keepth thy soul, doth not He know it? and shall not He render to every man according to his works?” Proverbs 24:11-12

Very early in the course of His ministry, the Lord Jesus taught His people that they were to be the light – not of Jerusalem, not of Judea, nor yet of the Jewish nation, but – of the world. And He taught them to pray – not as the heathen, who use vain and unmeaning repetitions; nor yet as the worldly-minded, who ask first and principally (if not solely) for their own private benefit and need: “For,” said He, “your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask Him. After this manner therefore pray ye: -

“Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be Thy name;

Thy kingdom come;

Thy will be done; as in heaven, so in earth.”

And it was only after these petitions, and quite secondary to them, that any personal petitions were to be offered. Even the very moderate one, “Give us this day our daily bread,” followed them. Is not this order too often reversed in the present day? 

Do not Christians often really feel, and also act, as though it was incumbent upon them to begin with, “Give us this day our daily bread;” virtually concluding with, “If consistent with this, may Thy name be hallowed too?” And is not Matt. 33, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you;” practically read, even amongst the professed followers of Christ, Seek first all these things (food and clothing, health, wealth, and comfort), and then the kingdom of God and His righteousness? 

Instead of honoring Him with the first-fruits of our time and substance, are we not content to offer Him the fragments that remain after our own supposed need is supplied? While we thus refuse to bring the tithes into His storehouse, and to prove the Lord therewith, can we wonder that He does not open the windows of heaven, and pour us out the fullness of blessing that we desire?

We have a striking exemplification of the manner in which we should seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, in the life and in the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. And when risen from the dead, ere He ascended on high, He commissioned His people to make known everywhere the glad tidings of salvation – full and free – through faith in His finished work. This duty He enjoined on us; enjoined in the most unmistakable form, and to the most definite extent; saying, “Go ye, into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” 

Grievously has the Church failed in fulfilling this command. Sad it is to realize that so near to the close of the nineteenth century of the Christian era, there are immense tracts of our globe either wholly destitute of, or most inadequately provided with, the means of grace and the knowledge of salvation.

Leaving other fields, however, let us concentrate our attention on the Chinese empire. Let us reflect on its great antiquity, its vast extent, its teeming population; on its spiritual destitution, and overwhelming need. Let us survey the efforts that have been put forth for its good, and contemplate the work which still remains to be done, ere the gospel is preached to “every creature” throughout this empire. And may the view we shall obtain give rise to devout gratitude to God for our own superior privileges, to humiliation before Him for our past want of earnestness in the dissemination of the truth, and to more strenuous efforts in future for China’s good."

The same can be said for all areas of the 10/40 Window, especially. There are still more than 2 billion people who have never heard the name of Jesus. It is our commission, our duty, our privilege, to tell them about the One who loves them so much and wants to prepare a place in Heaven for them. 

America supplies more money and people to worldwide missions than any other nation. That is wonderful, but it is not enough. We are also among the top five richest nations in the world with the largest percentage of Christians in the world. We have been given a HUGE blessing and a HUGE responsibility. 

Our military are ready to go into foreign nations to fight and die for people they don't know in the name of democracy and freedom so why aren't more Christians willing to go into foreign nations, to fight and possibly die for people they don't know, in the name of Jesus Christ who is more important than anyone else in our lives? 

When statistics show that American Christians spend more money on cosmetics than on mission outreach, that is a sad commentary on our nation. May we each ask the Lord what He wants us to do and then go do it. The glory of the Lord and eternity for 2 billion people is at stake.