7月9日靈修禱文

July 9th, 2020

But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.

Acts 14:19-21

Thought

Paul was totally mission focused. All the stones in Antioch and Iconium could not have beaten this commitment out of Paul’s heart! Tropsy (22 years old) Saunders was the youngest Australian missionary to China. Two years into the ministry, Tropsy was killed in Boxer Rebellion with her older sister, Nellie(24). During the memorial service, their mother, Eliza wept unconsolably. One church member tried to comfort her saying, “ Don’t be sad, Eliza, your daughters served God faithfully and had glorious home going!” Eliza replied, “ I am not sad that they were killed. I am terribly sad that I do not have another daughter to send to China.” Shortly after, Eliza became a missionary martyr to China. Three of them served a total of six mission focused years in China. Glory be to God.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me such heart stirring examples of mission focused lives. Help me to see what I am still holding back. Show me how to surrender every good and perfect gift that came from You for the advancement of Your Great Commission. Amen.

Rev. James Chuang

但有些猶太人從安提阿和以哥念來，挑唆眾人，就用石頭打保羅，以為他是死了，便拖到城外。門徒正圍著他，他就起來，走進城去。第二天，同巴拿巴往特庇去。對那城裡的人傳了福音，使好些人做門徒，就回路司得、以哥念、安提阿去

使徒行傳 14:19-21

思想

保羅完全專注於傳福音的使命。從安提阿和以哥念來的人用石頭打他，但也無阻他堅決要傳福音的心。22歲的陶納絲桑德斯(Tropsy Saunders)是前往中國傳福音的最年輕澳洲籍宣教士。宣教兩年，她和24歲的姐姐娜莉(Nellie)一同在義和團之亂中被殺。在她們的安息禮拜上，母親伊麗莎(Eliza)難掩悲傷，不斷抽泣。教會一位會友試圖安慰她說:「伊麗莎，不要難過，你兩位女兒忠心事奉神，現已返回天家，光榮無比！」伊麗莎回答說:「我不是因她們被殺而難過，我特別難過的是，我再無女兒可差派往中國去了。」不久，她也在中國殉道。她們三人專心致志地服事中國共六年。願榮耀歸予神。