Anyone who knows of J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905), founder of the China Inland Mission, knows that he is a man of deep spiritual awareness and integrity. The wisdom he expounds, although spoken of plainly in Holy Scripture, appears old fashion and out of sync with modern Christianity, but it is no less than the very Gospel of Truth and Life.
J. Hudson Taylor dared trust God with his whole life, and found Him to be true to His word at every step and trial.
Today we are without the role models of men like J. Hudson Taylor, and God knows we need them.
Steve Blackwell
Blessed Adversity
J. Hudson Taylor
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“The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised.”
—JOB 1:21
A ll of God’s dealings are full of blessing. He is good, and does good, good only, and continually. The believer who has taken the Lord as his Shepherd can assuredly say in the words of the psalmist, “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6). Hence we may be sure that days of adversity, as well as days of prosperity are full of blessing. The believer does not need to wait until he sees the reason of God’s afflictive dealings with him before he is satisfied; he knows that all things work together for good to them that love God (Rom. 8:28).
The history of Job should teach us many lessons of deep interest and profit. The veil is taken away from the unseen world, and we learn much of the power of our great adversary, but also of his powerlessness apart from the permission of God our Father.
Satan would very frequently harass the believer in times of sorrow and trial by leading him to think that God is angry with him. But our heavenly Father delights to trust a trustworthy child with trial. Take the case of Abraham: God so trusted him that He was not afraid to call upon His servant to offer up his well-beloved son. And in the case of Job, it was not Satan who challenged God about Job, but God who challenged the arch-enemy to find any flaw in Job’s character. In each case grace triumphed, and in each case patience and fidelity were rewarded.
The reply of Satan is noteworthy. He had considered God’s servant and evidently knew all about him. The arch-enemy had found all his own efforts ineffectual to harass and lead astray God’s beloved servant. He had found a hedge around Job, and about his servants, and about his house, and about all that he had on every side. How blessed to dwell so protected.
Is there no analogous spiritual blessing to be enjoyed now? Thank God there is. Every believer may be as safely kept and as fully blessed.
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Almighty God, help me to see that I dwell in the shadow of Your wings, and that I’m kept by Your power for a salvation that one day will be revealed for all to see. I praise You for the hedge of protection around my life. Keep me focused on You. Amen.