Saturday, October 18, 2008

Nothing small, nothing great

A final excerpt from the biography of J. Hudson Taylor that I have just finished reading, an incident from the very last days of his life…

That afternoon a reception had been arranged to give all the missionaries in the city [Changsha, Hunan] an opportunity of meeting Taylor. It was cool and pleasant in the little garden on to which the sitting-room opened, and tea was served on the lawn, surrounded by trees and flowers. He sat in the midst of the guests for an hour or more, evidently enjoying the quiet, happy time, and after all had left one of the doctors remained with him for half an hour. Speaking of the privilege of bringing everything to God in prayer, Dr. Barrie said that he was sometimes hindered by the feeling that many things were too small, really, to pray about. Taylor's answer was that he didn't know anything about it—about such a distinction, probably. Then he added: "There is nothing small, and there is nothing great: only God is great, and we should trust Him fully."

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