I’ve been in a biography/autobiography kick recently. This book has been on my “to read” list for awhile, and I’ve been pushing it off. But when reading Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, I saw that George Müller had given to Taylor’s work in China. I was amazed. Wasn’t Müller the man who took care of thousands of orphans, not with his giant pocketbook, but through his faith in God alone? How did he have any money to send to overseas missions? Incredible story. Honestly, the book was a bit difficult for me to wade through in some parts, mostly due to writing style. But the way this man trusted the Lord is something I envy.
Below: some of my favorite “quotes” from my reading this month.
Money is really worth no more than as it is used according to the mind of the Lord; and life is worth no more than as it is spent in the service of the Lord. ¹
Of late I have seen, by God’s grace, more and more how entirely unworthy I am of being used by God for this glorious and honorable service, and I can only say: “Lord, here is thy servant, if thou art pleased to use such a one as I am.” ¹
How blessed to have the living God to go to! Particularly precious to know him in these days of widespread distress! ¹
But the riches of God are as great as ever. He knows that our expenses are great. He knows that a little will not do in these days, when provisions are so dear…. My soul is at peace. ¹
Six hundred and seven days I sought the help of God day by day, before we came so far as to be able to commence the building; yet at last he gave me the desire of my heart. ¹
I find the great help, the uninterrupted help which the Lord has given me for more than fifteen years, a great reason for going forward in this work. And this, trusting in him, I am resolved to do. ¹
But I desire more than this for the orphans. I cannot be satisfied with anything concerning them short of this, that their souls be won for the Lord. ¹
We can only give to him of his own; for all we have is his. When the day of recompense comes, the regret will only be that we have done so little for him, not that we have done too much. ¹
When Jesus called his disciples to “walk after” him, he meant the word in both ways [halakh and halakhah]. First they would follow in his literal footsteps; later they would follow in his teachings, taking his message out to the world. ²
…we find Jesus’ words call us beyond what is going on in our brains. We are not just to “hear” but to take heed, to respond, to obey. And we are not just called to believe in the oneness of God, but to place him at the center of our lives. ²
Love is both inward and outward, both the warm fuzzies and the actions that result from them. ²
If there is one thing you can learn from Jewish culture over the ages, it is an utter passion for learning one’s religious faith…. You might think that an education that revolved around memorizing the Bible is excessive, but in most societies from ancient times up to the present, people have been far more literate in their sacred texts than we are today. Indeed, our modern Western culture is one of the most secular in the history of the world. ²
Loving God with all of your life is the exact opposite of our culture’s expectation that you’ll wedge a few moments for God in between work, hobbies, sports, TV, and the latest movie. ²
If you are generous, your whole life will show it. And if you are selfish, it will infect your very soul. ²
Caring for those around us isn’t merely a nice habit to cultivate; Jesus says that it is central to our character as a whole. ²
¹ George Müller, The Autobiography of George Müller
² Lois Tverberg, Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus
The Mitcheners 