19 Inspiring Quotes from J. Hudson Taylor

Over thirty years ago, I saw my first Christian movie. It was about the life of?J. Hudson Taylor. That movie and his books laid a spiritual foundation in my life on what it means to abide in Christ. ?Here is a short bio and some of his faith-stretching thoughts. ?May God inspire you through this man’s humble faith and precious insights in walking with Jesus.

James Hudson Taylor was a British Protestant Christian missionary to China and founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM) (now OMF International). Taylor spent 51 years in China. The society that he began was responsible for bringing over 800 missionaries to the country, which began 125 schools and directly resulted in 18,000 Christian conversions. He also established more than 300 stations of work with more than 500 local helpers in all eighteen provinces.

Taylor was known for his sensitivity to Chinese culture and zeal for evangelism. He adopted wearing native Chinese clothing even though this was rare among missionaries of that time. Under his leadership, the CIM was singularly non-denominational in practice and accepted members from all Protestant groups, including individuals from the working class and single women, as well as multinational recruits. Primarily because the CIM campaigned against the Opium trade, Taylor was referred to as one of the most significant Europeans who visited China in the 19th Century.

Quotes:

“I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking Him to do His work through me.” ― J. Hudson Taylor

“Do not work so hard for Christ that you have no strength to pray, for prayer requires strength.” ― J. Hudson Taylor

“Depend on it. God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply. He is too wise a God to frustrate His purposes for lack of funds, and He can just as easily supply them ahead of time as afterward, and He much prefers doing so.” ― J. Hudson Taylor

“I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: 1. it is impossible, 2. it is difficult, 3. it is done.” ― J. Hudson Taylor

“I am so weak that I cannot read my Bible…even pray, I can only lie still in God’s arms like a little child, and trust.” ― J. Hudson Taylor

“The branch of the vine does not worry, and toil, and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain. No; it rests in union and communion with the vine, and at the right time and in the right way, is the right fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus.” ― J. Hudson Taylor

“All our difficulties are only platforms for the manifestations of His grace, power, and love.” ― J. Hudson Taylor

“There are three indispensable requirements for a missionary: 1. Patience 2. Patience 3. Patience.” ― J. Hudson Taylor

“Our joy in Him may be a fluctuating thing: His joy in us knows no change.“ ― J. Hudson Taylor

“God isn’t looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him.” ― J. Hudson Taylor

“God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him.” ― J. Hudson Taylor

“It does not matter how great the pressure is. What really matters is where the pressure lies — whether it comes between you and God, or whether it presses you nearer His heart.” ― J. Hudson Taylor

“Let us never forget that what we are is more important than what we do.” ― J. Hudson Taylor

“It is not so much the greatness of our troubles, as the littleness of our spirit, which makes us complain.” – J. Hudson Taylor

“Whatever is your best time in the day, give that to communion with God.”?― J. Hudson Taylor

“Jesus is our strength, and what we cannot do or bear, He can both do and bear in us.” ― J. Hudson Taylor

“The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed.” ― J. Hudson Taylor

“All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on God being with them.” ― J. Hudson Taylor

“You must go forward on your knees.” ?― J. Hudson Taylor