Stuff That Matters In Life

There are many things in the book Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret that have greatly encouraged me and given me deeper understanding of life in Christ. This biography is written by Howard and Geraldine Taylor, Hudson’s son and daughter in law, a condensed version of a two-volume biography.

Here are some highlights for me:

I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize this; for he, I know, is able to carry out his will, and his will is mine. It makes no matter where he places, or house. That is rather for him to consider than for me; for in the easiest position he must give me his grace, and in the most difficult his grace is sufficient. p.123

“But are you always conscious of abiding in Christ?” Hudson Taylor was asked many years later. “While sleeping last night,” he replied, “did I ceased to abide in your home because I was unconscious of the fact? We should never be conscious of not abiding in Christ.” p.124

One difficulty follows another very fast…but God reigns, not chance. p.129

John 7:37 ‘If any man thirst, let him come and to me and drink.’ Who does not thirst? Who has not mind–thirsts, heart–thirsts, soul-thirsts or body- thirsts? Well, no matter which, or whether I have them all – ‘Come unto me and’ remain thirsty? Ah no!…, Can Jesus meet my need? Yes, and more than meet it. No matter how intricate my path, how difficult my service; no matter how sad my bereavement, how far away my loved ones; no matter how helpless I am, how deep my soul-yearnings – Jesus can meet all, all, and more than meet…He not only promises me to drink to alleviate my thirst. No, better than that! ‘He who trusts me in this matter (who believeth in me, takes me at my word), out of him shall flow…’ [John 7:38] Can it be? Can the dry and thirsty one not only be refreshed – the parched soil moistened, the arid places cooled – but the land be so saturated that springs well up and streams flow down from it? Even so!…The cause of thirst may be irremediable. One coming, one drinking may refresh and comfort: but we are to be ever coming, ever drinking. No fear of emptying the fountain or exhausting the river! p.129-130