Relevant Life

When I was a very young Christian, I was given a book about a Missionary named Hudson Taylor. I remember being empowered and challenged by the life of Mr. Taylor. His life encouraged me to be bold in my faith regardless if anyone liked it or not.

James Hudson Taylor was a missionary to the nation of China in the late 1800’s. He was the founder of  CIM ( China Inland Mission) which exists today as OMP international. Taylor spent over 50 years being a missionary to China. He was instrumental in bringing to China over 800 missionaries. Those missionaries started schools and yield thousands of conversions to Christ. Mr. Taylor’s passion for Christ and for the Chinese people helped to move the needle of the Gospel being spread to all of China. His efforts and the efforts of hundreds of missionaries called to China were used to cause a spiritual revolution in present day China. Can every believer have a similar impact? Should we desire to have the same impact?

We can  have the same impact on the world as Hudson Taylor. We are all called to go into the world. We are called to be impact catalysts for the world around us. Being an arm chair church activist has never accomplished anything. Jesus was clear that we GO into ALL the WORLD!!!

The eleven disciples went to the mountain in Galilee where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they bowed down in worship, though some had doubts. When Jesus came near, he spoke to them. He said, \”All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. \”And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.\”
(Mat 28:16-20 GW)

Going into the world and preaching the gospel means taking risks. Hudson Taylor was a risk taker. Many missionaries around the world today are risk takers because their passion for the Gospel outweighs their complacency in everyday life. Holy Spirit is challenging us to GO. Go into our neighborhoods, jobs, communities, villages, and world. Many around us are without the saving power of Christ. They may never hear the message of hope unless the vessels of hope go into all the world.

So what does it mean to be a risk taker for the Lord?

Risk taker for the Lord.

1. Don’t walk in fear. ( If he says Go, he will equip you to do it.)

2. Don’t let setbacks or failures stop you from taking risks. ( Part of the  risk is the ability to fail with grace.)

3. Live a life of absolute obedience to the voice of Christ. ( Obedience breeds sacrifice, the sacrifice births the heart of a risk taker.)

4. Don’t become complacent in your everyday life patterns. (Complacency is the destroyer of righteous movement. Risk taking leads to divine encounters and spirit led adventures. )

5. Walk in His authority. Be Bold in Christ.

6. Keep the “ GO” mindset for the gospel of Christ.