A soothing, balm-distilling influence

Emily Judson (Adoniram's third wife, his first two having died) is about to go ashore Burma. She is going through trauma. Then her husband prays for her, like her Saviour would. In fact, I thought at first that she was sensing the Saviour was praying for her until I looked closer.

"Presently I heard words, but though spoken close to my ear, they were not addressed to me. How that low, mellow voice crept down into my heart, calming its foolish agitation, imparting the strength of faith, illuminating its tremulous, shadowing depths with hope, and elevating it to a still, serene reliance on Him who can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, imply because His nature though sinless, has vibrated to every earthly emotion.

Then how strange to be so thoroughly comprehended! Any body else now would have thought I was in a pet from the disappointment of not going ashore, or something else of the kind.

He knew, I can not tell how, but he told it all in that prayer as I never could have done- he knew just how a faint heart feels, suddenly pressed upon with a view of moral sublimity to which it is for the moment inadequate; he knows what it is to have the doors of time, all shut and barred, and the long vista of eternity stretching in solemn perspective before the shrinking soul, and he knows just what it needed at such a crisis.

I remember a soothing, balm-distilling influence, a feeling of perfect security and serenity, and then I went to sleep."

Emily Judson

The wondrous story of Jesus' dying love

Adoniram Judson is back in the States on furlough, or what is now called home assignment.

After the sermon he had spoken for some fifteen minutes 'with singular simplicity, and..... touching pathos,' as Emily (his wife) thought, of the the love of the Saviour, 'what he has done for us, and what we own to him.'

As he sat down [Emily recollected]..... it was evident, even to the most unobservant eye, that most of the listeners were disappointed. After the exercises were over, several persons inquired of me, frankly, why Dr. Judson had not talked of the something else, why he had not old a story..... On he way home, I mentioned the subject to him.

"Why, what did they want?" he inquired; "I presented the most interesting subject in the world, to the best of my ability."

"But they want something different- a story."

"Well, I am sure I gave them a story- the most thrilling one that can be conceived of."

"But they had heard it before. They want something new of a man who had just come from the antipodes (inhabitants of the opposite side of the earth)."

"Then I am glad they have it to say, that a man coming the antipodes had nothing better to tell than the wondrous story of Jesus' dying love."

To the Golden Shore

To teach him true humility.

"He (Adoniram Judson) began to suspect that his real motive in becoming a missionary had been not genuine humility and self-abnegation but ambition- ambition to be the first American foreign missionary; the first missionary to Burma; the first translator of he Bible to Burmese: first in his own eyes and the eyes of men.

He had a lust to excel. That was why he enjoyed the company of important men- ambassadors, generals- such as Crawford and Sir Archibald Campbell. He knew they liked and admored him, and their liking and admiration were like heady wine. In their company he glowed, and his wit flashed sparks like fire.

He had always known that his forwardness, self-pride and desire to stand out were serious flaws in his nature. Now he began to suspect that they were more than flaws. They made his entire missionary career up to now a kind of monstrous hypocrisy, a method of securing prominence and praise without admitting it to himself. He had deluded himself. But he had not deluded God. Perhaps here was the intention in all these deaths (in his family): to teach him true humility.

There was another death in September, that of the native sister Mah Men-lay. Almost half of here little wealth- one hundred and fifty rupees- she had left to the missionaries. A letter from Amherst on one of her last days told Adoniram, 'She is not inclined to converse much.... She exclaimed, "But first of all I shall hasten to where my Saviour sits, and fall down, and worship him, for his great love in sending he teachers to show me the way to heaven.".'              To the Golden Shore

A reckoning of God's gifts

"When the will of God is done out of thankfulness the whole idea of becoming good through doing good is excluded. Then I no longer claim any reward for my works because God has already given me everything. Then the reckoning of merits, according to St. Augustine's splendid phrase, is nothing by 'a reckoning of God's gifts.' The good works of Christians are no 'accomplishments' that deserve meritorious distinction but they are 'fruits' that have grown out of the creative power of the Word, out of living union with Christ... The one sanctifying himself because of thankfulness does not claim for himself any honor for the renewal of his life. He who gives thanks remains humble for he gives the glory to God alone."  Adolf Koberle

The Flow of Prayer…

“Word-centered meditation is bringing the intellect to complete focus on listening to God. This ordinarily leads to the kind of prayer often called ‘affective’ prayer which is a combination of deep repentance and offering up of the life in new degrees of surrender [because of the goodnews of Christ.] This in turn leads to praise and thanks in which the soul simply rests content in contemplating God’s beauty and greatness. Finally, the soul looks outward toward its challenges in the world, and now with clarity of perspective, it begins to wrestle to have God’s will done on earth as it is in heaven.” Timothy Keller

The best of causes...

After Adoniram Judson (who was to become the first overseas missionary from North America) and Nancy Hasseltine were married in her home- 'the very room where they had first met', they attended 'a great meeting' in the Haverhill church.

Parson Allen who knew Nancy from infancy, preached a sermon to the two who were days away from their departure to the Orient. Here I sense he speaks of the greatest motive for missions.

"My dear children, you are now engaged in the best of causes. It is that cause for which Jesus the Son of God came into the world and suffered and died....." (from To the Golden Shore)

The following day in Boston's Park Street Church, at their ordination Dr. Samuel Spring said the following: "No enterprise comparable to this has been embraced by the American Church. All others retire before it, like stars before the rising sun."

Later in the ordination Dr. Samuel Worcester also added: "You are but the precursors of many, who shall follow you in this arduous, glorious exercise; for the Gospel shall be preached to all nations..."

When I ponder the meaning of the portion in the Lord's prayer, "Your will be done on earth as it is heaven," among other things, I see His "will" as His "passion." I ask myself what reveals the passion of our God the most. It must be revealed at the "crux" of His history. His will and therefore passion is revealed at the cross. His passion at the cross reveals His passion for the salvation of mankind.

Should we not remember the 'founding words' of American missions? When we ponder "Christ and him crucified," our passion and action for the lost will increase also, not unlike the passion of Adoniram Judson, our first American missionary.

I expect God will...

"1807... (Robert) Morrison had been in Boston arranging passage for China because the East India Company had refused to take a missionary of any kind to the Orient. Morrison's mission had been approved by such prominent men as Mr. Madison, then Secretary of State, soon to become President..... The owner of the ship on which he was to sail had commented skeptically, 'And so, Mr. Morrison, you really expect to make an impression on the idolatry of the great Chinese empire.' To which the missionary had made his now often repeated rejoinder: 'No, sir; I expect God will.'" To the Golden Shore, Courtney Anderson

Jesus, keep me near the cross

Jesus, keep me near the cross, There a precious fountain Free to all, a healing stream Flows from Calvary’s mountain.

Refrain

In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever; Till my raptured soul shall find Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul, Love and mercy found me; There the bright and morning star Sheds its beams around me.

Refrain

Near the cross! O Lamb of God, Bring its scenes before me; Help me walk from day to day, With its shadows o’er me.

Refrain

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait Hoping, trusting ever, Till I reach the golden strand, Just beyond the river.

Refrain

Fanny Crosby

An embleme of Thy blood

"In what torne ship soever I embarke, That ship shall be my embleme of Thy Arke; What sea soever swallow mee, that flood Shall be to me an embleme of Thy blood; Though Thou with clouds of anger do disguise Thy face; yet through that maske I know those eyes, Which, though they turne away sometimes, They never will despise."

- John Donne, A Hymne to Christ

(Misspellings in the original)

Joy! Joy! Joy!

"In the year of grace 1654 Monday 23 November, the day of St.Clement, Pope and Martyr..... from about half-past ten in the evening till about half and hour after midnight. FIRE! God of Abraham. God of Isaac. God of Jacob. Not of the philosophers and the learned. Certainty. Joy. Certainty. Emotion. Sight. Joy. Forgetfulness of the world and of all outside of God. The world has not known Thee. Joy! Joy! Joy! Tears of joy! My God, will you leave me? Let me not every be separated from you." Blaise Pascal

"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy..." I Peter 1:8

Another 'Chariot of Fire'

Eric Liddell of Chariots of Fire was not the only athlete who protested sporting events being on Sunday.

In the 1908 London Games, Forrest Smithson, a theology student from the United States, protested against Sunday trial heats by running the 100-meter hurdles with a Bible in his hand. He attracted attention to his protest by winning the race in world-record time.

God's Joyful Runner

The watch word: Grace

During the day- create a watch-word.

We may become filled with anxiety. "If I slip up, if I make a wrong move here, I could lose everything." But we must think, instead, "All the things I have are really gifts of grace. They aren't here because of my performance, but by God's generosity. He loves me enough to lose his only Son for me, surely he will continue to give me what I need. Console yourself."

We may become filled with pride and anger. "I am not getting what I deserve! People are not treating me right! Who do they think they are?" But we must think, instead, "All the things I have are really gifts of grace. I have never gotten what I deserve- and I never will! If God gave me what I deserved, I'd be dead. Humble yourself."

We may become filled with guilt. "I have blown it! My problems mean he's abandoned me." But we must think, instead, "All the things I have are the results of God's grace. I never earned them to begin with- so I couldn't have un-earned them. He accepted me long ago even though he knew I would do this. This was in my heart all along- I just didn't see it, but he did. He's with me now. Be confident, Self."

We may become filled with boredom and lethargy. "Sure, I'm a Christian. Sure I have good things. So what?" But we must think, instead, "All the things I have- everyone- is a gift of grace. The very fact I am a Christian is a miracle. Be amazed. Be in wonder, Self."

Timothy Keller

Humility in the wrong place

“What we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place..... Modesty has settled upon the organ of conviction; where it was never meant to be. A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth; this has been exactly reversed.” G.K. Chesterton

Another side to Eric Liddel...

Eric Liddel (pict), pictured in the award winning movie Chariots of Fire, was known for shaking the hands of his opponents before he ran his track event, showing unusual sportsmanship. He was also a great rugby player. Here is how he showed this sportsmanship in a match against Wales.

'In January 1923..., the Scottish team traveled to Cardiff, where they had not been able to beat the Welsh team since 1890. Eric and A. L. (Gracie) were brilliant as the Scots bested the Welshmen 11-8 before a wildly partisan crowd. It seems, however, that Eric and his teammates had a way of projecting sportsmanship beyond themselves.

The Welsh team assigned two players to take Eric and A.L. out of the game. They were clipped, tackled by high-low combinations, kicked, and tripped all through the game. Each time an opponent stepped on Eric's fingers, Eric would grin.

But Eric and A.L. got faster and faster. Up in the stands the local fans were drunk, ugly, and anxious to see their heroes smash the two speedy Scots. Howls of rage erupted from the partisan crowd as Eric and A.L. took in three lightening goals in the closing minutes.

When the game ended, the Welsh fans ran onto the field. Ringleaders yelled, "Get the Scots!" An ominous moment ensued. The angry crowd could become violent at any moment, and police entered the field.

"Your chaps played ever so well," said Eric, extending his hand to the ringleader, eyes twinkling. Incredibly, the angry Welshmen picked up Eric on their shoulders and carried the victorious Scots off, while thousands began to cheer. Soon, a victory parade was moving around the track with athletes from both teams riding on the fans' shoulders. "Carry your chaps," said Eric, and they hoisted the Welsh team on their shoulders, too.

It was one of those unique sporting events that sets in stark relief the bad behavior of partisan crowds on less happy occasions, and it showed the power of Eric's witness.'

God's Joyful Runner, Russell W. Ramsey

"I believe that God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. When I run I feel His pleasure." This quote from Eric was also in movie Chariots of Fire. I am certain that the roots of his sportsmanship lies here.

'Take time to be holy'

"Children are coming to the [new] birth too easily, too readily..... So the absence of a profound joy is, I suggest, due to the fact that we are in too much hurry; we are too anxious to count heads; we are too interested in results..... A minister who had won first prize for sweet peas told me that the secret of his success was to dig deep- to a depth corresponding to the desired height of the stalk. And it is exactly the same in this [spiritual] realm. You have got to have deep conviction of sin before you will have a great joy..... In every realm of life today we are such believers in quick returns, that the returns we get are not worth having. You have got to 'take time to be holy'. " D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

It is glad surrender.

"The apostle says- I quote again Romans 6:17- 'Ye have obeyed from the heart.' You do not merely obey because you are afraid of hell, or because it is the thing to do in Christian circles, you obey from the heart- this element of emotion comes in, the joy. It is glad surrender." D. Martin Loyd-Jones

Christ and Him crucified...

"If our preaching is not good news, it is not Christian preaching. It may be morality and many other things, but it is not the gospel." D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Paul preached "Christ and him crucified." Our preaching must be Christ-centered preaching.