Before we can carry out the works of God, we must first know what are His works. It is important to note that the first requirement is that we actually believe in the one and only true God – Jesus Christ, for we read in (John 6:29): “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’”
In order to do the works of God we must be saved and have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Once we accept Jesus into our hearts we are now able to understand what His works are, claim His promises, that are necessary to accomplish His works, and appropriate the needed supplies to carry out His perfect will.
I just love the insight that the great missionary to China, Hudson Taylor, shared regarding how to do God’s wonderful works. I pray we memorize this quote and allow its wisdom to flood our souls and give us confidence that with God all things are possible: “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies.”1
Let’s take one of God’s most important works and see how this quote applies. One very important work of God is to evangelize the lost.
The first part of Taylor’s quote is easy to know. We all, as Christians, are called to share the gospel message. As I shared in yesterday’s devotion, one of the requirements for Christian service is are we available. Can God count on us to share the full gospel message as He places people in our path.
The second part of Taylor’s quote, “done in God’s way,” means that we share the full message of the gospel, that not only does God love us, but that we have sinned, and need to repent of our trespasses and accept Jesus as our sin substitute. But, I believe, that sharing the gospel is only part of what God would want us to do. We also need to pray for the conviction of the Holy Spirt, in the life of the person we are sharing the message of Jesus. Sharing the Word, and praying for the salvation of a lost soul are God’s way of opening the blind eyes and breaking the stronghold that Satan has on the person we are witnessing to.
And the third part of this powerful quote, “will never lack God’s supplies,” helps us know that God will provide all we need to carry out the work of evangelism. When we are faithful and available to the calling to share the gospel, God will not only give us the words to share and the boldness needed, but will supply the necessary convicting power, that is essential to maximizing the chances that the person we are witnessing to will come to Jesus.
So, may I once again challenge you to memorize this powerful quote from missionary Hudson Taylor: “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies.”
1 Quote by Hudson Taylor: “Depend on it. God’s work done in God’s way will…”
“Before we can carry out the works of God, we must first know what are His works.”
This quest is simplified by the prayer Jesus taught that many of us recite every Lord’s Day but it raises more questions. We pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matt. 6:10
What is His will in heaven? What does it look like? We need to know if we’re going to incorporate it on earth. Do we believe it can be done? All authority has been given to Christ for the purpose of making it happen.
So, whatever God’s works are, they must be heaven sent.