Serving Bread

As CSUN staff preparing for the school year, we read Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secrets. Though it may not be the easiest read (the language is dated) it offers an inspiring look at a man of faith. Below are lessons gleaned from the book. You can also read this in my library.

• Life of Faith: Hudson Taylor epitomizes faith. He trusted God for all of his provisions and resources. Although difficulties would come along the way and the road is full of suffering, it never rocked his faith in the God who is faithful to him. As his organization grew, its budget increased, yet God continued to meet the needs of the ministry. Without asking for money, millions of dollars poured into the ministry and never has the organization experienced any level of debt. Finances exemplify how he trusted God for all of his needs and provisions.
• Centered on the Word: He read the Bible cover to cover 40 times in 40 years. And he firmly believed that the primary task of the missionary is to have a deep connection with Jesus, in solitude. He also recognized that the work would always lead the missionary away from investing in his personal life, so it was important that this would be a primary way of spending his or her time.
• Practice, Practice, Practice: Before even going to China, Hudson Taylor lived as a missionary in England. He believed that it’d be easier to live a life of faith in England than it would be in China, so practicing in England would prepare him for the task in China. Hudson Taylor also invested his time and energy studying Chinese. He did not wait for the mission field to prepare him. He prepared and trained years in advance.
• Joy in the Midst of Suffering: He lost his two children and his first wife in the mission field. Hudson Taylor’s life was far from being shielded from any suffering, yet he always trusted and found his joy in Jesus. He never allowed life’s circumstances to dictate his emotional world. When things came up that were distractions or road-bumps, he slowed down and looked for Jesus in those moments. He did not see his life as a sacrifice, but as an opportunity to enjoy God and his favors.
• Pray for the Laborers: He needed workers and partners in the ministry and he would pray for them. And God would send laborers. This is a basic Biblical principle that Hudson Taylor loved to employ in his life and in his ministry.
• Unabashed, Unashamed: Hudson Taylor recruited for China, prayed for China, lived in China. He ate, slept, breathed China. China and the mission to China was on his mind all the time. I wonder if the people who interacted with him were ever tired of hearing about China. His commitment to China could never be questioned. He was the country’s greatest fan.
• Humility: It’s hard to imagine anything other than humility characterizing Hudson Taylor. He was quick to bounce glory off of him and unto God. He was quick to trust in Jesus rather than his own wisdom or leadership skills or charisma. He wanted his ministry to be less about him and more about the glory of God.
• Incarnational Living: When missionaries were living in compounds and ministering on the coasts, Hudson Taylor decided to go inland, to live, work and look like the people he’s ministering to. He wanted to make sure to reduce any barriers for people hearing the gospel.