IN THE FOOTSTEPS of James Hudson Taylor

ELEVEN
“I had not then learned to think of God as the One Great
Circumstance ‘in whom we live, and move, and have our being’; and of all lesser, external circumstances, as necessary the kindest, wisest, best, because either ordered or permitted by Him.  Hence, my disappointment and trial were very great.”
~~~
“The great enemy is always ready with his oft-repeated suggestion, ‘All these things are against me.‘  But oh, how false the word!  The cold, and even the hunger, the watchings and sleeplessness of nights of danger, and the feeling at times of utter isolation and helplessness, were well and wisely chosen, and tenderly and lovingly meted out.  What circumstances could have rendered the Word of God sweeter, and the Presence of God so real, the help of God so precious?  They were times, indeed, of emptying and humbling, but were experiences that made not ashamed, and that strengthened purpose to go forward as God might direct, with His proved promise, ‘I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.‘  One can see, even now, that ‘as for God, His way is perfect’. . . .”
~~~
“The hatred and contempt of the Cantonese were very painful, ‘foreign devil,‘ ‘foreign dog,‘ or ‘foreign pig‘ being the commonest appellations; but all this led into deeper fellowship than I had ever known before with Him who was ‘despised and rejected of men.’”
~~~
“Not infrequently God brings His people into difficulties on purpose that they may come to know Him as they could not otherwise do.  Then He reveals Himself as ‘a very present help in trouble,’ and makes the heart glad indeed at each fresh revelation of a Father’s faithfulness.”

And would not My Bride see as I see?  Would she not suffer all things to know Me and the angst of My sufferings unto the Power of My Resurrection?  My Bride’s love for Me will cause her to follow through fire, through all to show forth the Love I demonstrated that while she was yet sinful and apart from Me, I died for her.

Ask to see as I see.  Ask to know Me as I long to be known.  Ask that your heart would be rent with all that My Heart bears.  Ask that there be no trial that would separate us, only circumstances which cause you to lean upon Me in ways which your heart is one with Mine.  I draw you close to sup with Me.  Do not disdain the method, for in partaking in My sorrow you would have tasted of My unending Love for you.  Step not away when adversity comes, but look toward Me, for I hold within My very Being all that you need to overcome, to come closer to Me, to lay down your life to prove your devotion.

TWELVE
“I was refraining from making my circumstances known to
those who would delight to meet my need, in order that my faith might be strengthened by receiving help from Himself in answer to prayer alone.  What was I to do?  And I waited for His answer.”
~~~
“We are convinced that if there were less solicitation for money and more dependence upon the Power of the Holy Ghost and upon the deepening of spiritual life, the experience of Moses would be a common one in every branch of Christian work.”
~~~
“I could look right into My Father’s face with a satisfied heart, ready, by His Grace, to do the next thing as He might teach
me and being very sure of His loving care.”
~~~
“They who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true, but also that when we fail to trust fully, He still remains unchangingly faithful.  He is wholly true, whether we trust or not. ‘If we believe not, He abideth faithful; He cannot deny Himself.‘  But oh, how we dishonor our Lord whenever we fail to trust Him, and what peace, blessing, and triumph we lose in thus sinning against the faithful One!  May we never again presume in anything to doubt Him!”
~~~
“Oh, it is sweet to live thus directly dependent upon the Lord,
who never fails us!”

Faithfulness is the key to prove your trust in Me.  I remain faithful.  As you ask Me for all that you need, you must see that I am a Father who rewards and accomplishes My Perfect Will in your midst.  If you look to human effort or provision, you will fail to win My trust.  I see your plight.  I authored it in many ways to cause you to look to Me.  When you look to others, you abort My Plan and bring forth “an Ishmael” where I planned a Holy offspring.  If I am your God, then I will provide.  If all that you do is of your own planning, your own will, your own desires to prove yourself worthy, then you are on your own and you will probably need to ask the aid of unsuspecting others, but therein, with your asking, will prove that you have not been sent by Me and your life is not in accordance with My promises.  Abide, My friends and I will provide.  It’s just that simple.


THIRTEEN
“I only pray, God, make me holy. . .”
~~~
“I looked to Him for pardon for the past, and for grace and strength to do His Will in the future, to tread more closely in His footsteps, and be more than ever wholly His.”

Wholly Mine, what does that mean?  To walk in My footsteps,
how is that possible, and yet, Hudson speaks of it, as if it is commonplace.  Is it simply rhetoric?  Is it a far-fetched dream? Is it possible?

Ask to be made Holy as I am Holy and you will see the fulfillment of the other.  For to walk in My footsteps; to stand and declare that you are wholly Mine, you have to be Holy.  You must be covered and cleansed with My very own Righteousness.  None of this comes from you.  None of you will remain when I cleanse and separate you from what and who you were.  You are to be fully Mine, even as I laid upon the Cross –– all of Me was surrendered for your cause; for your salvation; to redeem you from yourself and your sinful nature.  Be Holy as I am Holy and you will also walk where I walk; speak what I speak and lay your life down to save others.  I want you to be wholly Mine.  I long for you to be Holy as I am Holy.  Ask Me this day to make you so, and I will.


* All quotes taken from “Hudson Taylor -  Men of Faith Series”

IN THE FOOTSTEPS of John G. Lake

INDEX