Expect Great Things, Attempt Great Things!

How many times have you heard a preacher say, "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God!" Let me tell you about the man who first made that statement more than 200 years ago.

He was just a poor shoemaker, but he never sat at his cobbler’s bench without a book in front of him to study. By 21-years of age, he had mastered Latin, Greek and Hebrew. One day, while studying, he heard God’s missionary call, and cried out, “Here am I; send me!”

At his ordination to the ministry, he talked about the necessity of global missions, but was abruptly interrupted by an older clergyman, who said, "Young man, sit down! When God pleases to convert the heathen, he'll do it without consulting you or me."

This attitude is inconceivable to us today, thanks to that young man, William Carey. He taught that Jesus' Great Commission applied to all Christians of all times.

In 1793 he began a missionary society, and preached a sermon titled, "Expect Great Things from God; Attempt Great Things for God!" Within a year, Carey and his family sailed to far off India, as the first Christian missionary in the modern era.

Millions of people around the world today confess Christ as Lord, thanks to that impoverished shoemaker, who answered God’s call, despite the scolding of an older minister.

William Carey inspired many others to go throughout the world to proclaim the gospel, men like Adoniram Judson, who went to Burma; Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China; and David Livingston, who served God, and brought physical healing to thousands in Africa.

I don’t know about you, but Carey’s words still challenge me today: "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God!"

Blessings,

Willie L. Jordan

(Mrs. Fred Jordan)