Adoniram Judson, was the first foreign missionary sent from the United States of America. He left in the very early 1800’s a Presbyterian on his way to India, but by the Providence of God, he became a Baptist on the trip over and was rerouted to the Kingdom of Burma, now Myanmar. He was extremely intelligent and gifted, and despite those who thought he would be more productive to remain in America, his eyes were set on the mission. He wrote in his journal, “I hardly think that I shall write any more sermons. Why should I spend my time in attempting the correctnesses and elegances of English literature, who expect to spend my days in talking to savages in vulgar style?”
Adoniram and Ann’s life and sacrifice to reach Burma are inspiring. Below are some of his most challenging quotes (more to come in the coming months).
Speaking of our spiritual dryness and dullness he wrote, “We refuse to open the window shutters and complain that it is dark.” We complain on Facebook, Twitter, talk radio, blogs, and in the pulpits, but we do not actually do anything about the darkness. That would require real prayer, real labor in the trenches, and real patience. We refuse to open the window shutters and yet complain about the darkness.
We are also guilty of spiritual procrastination! Judson hits the nail on the head when he wrote, “Of how much real happiness we cheat our souls by preferring a trifle to God! We have a general intention of living religion; but we intend to begin tomorrow or next year. the present moment we prefer giving to the world. “A little more sleep, a little more slumber.” Well, a little more sleep, and we shall sleep in the grave. A few days, and our work will be done. And when it is once done, it is done to all eternity. A life once spent is irrevocable. It will remain to be contemplated through eternity.”
“Let us then, each morning, resolve to send the day into eternity in such a garb as we shall wish it to wear forever.”
“As every moment of the year will bring you nearer the end of your pilgrimage, may it bring you nearer to God, and find you more prepared to hail the messenger of death as a deliver and a friend.”
"O the pleasure which a lively Christian must enjoy in communion with God! It is all one whether he is a city or a desert, among relations or among savage foes, in the heat of the Indies or in the ice of Greenland; his infinite friend is always at hand. He need not fear want, or sickness, or pain, for his best friend does all things well. He need not fear Death, though he come in the most shocking form; for death is only a withdrawing of the veil which conceals his dearest Friend."
“This life’s a dream, an empty show. O, if we could always realize this, and live above the world,—if we could tread on its trifling vanities, live far from its perplexing cares, and keep an eye fixed on our heavenly inheritance,—how comfortable and useful we might be!”
“Life is short. Happiness consists not in outward circumstances.”
“How great are my obligations to spend and be spent for Christ!”
“O, if Christ will only sanctify me and strengthen me, I feel that I can do all things. But in myself I am absolute nothingness.”
“O, let us live as we shall then wish we had done.”
No comments:
Post a Comment