March 28, 2026
— Robert Morrison · Source: Memoirs of the Life and Labours of Robert Morrison (1839), vol. 1, letter to his brother Tom, September 27, 1807
John 12:24 “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains only a single seed; but if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
Robert Morrison's perseverance in solitude is the ultimate practice of the truth of "a single grain of wheat." We often yearn for life to be as vibrant as blooming flowers, yet fear being "buried" in the soil in loneliness, like wheat. When Morrison first arrived in China he knew of no one there who loved the Lord Jesus; his companions were the Bible and the Saviour it reveals. Yet it was because someone endured that initial solitude amid isolation and hostility that the gospel could take root in this hard soil. This "success doesn't have to be mine" mentality challenges the modern mentality of seeking immediate rewards. Reflecting on our lives, are we willing to be the "first" to break the deadlock in positions where no one applauds, or even where there is much resistance? True vitality often erupts from that silent time buried deep underground, unknown to others. The loneliness we endure now may be the very foundation of grace that allows others to draw nourishment and take root in the future.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing me, through Morrison's life, to see the glorious path of "a grain of wheat" falling to the ground. Lord, when I am surrounded by the "ice" of my circumstances, feeling isolated and helpless, and my service fruitless, strengthen my faith, so that I may not falter because of the loneliness of the moment. Grant me the courage of a pioneer, so that I may willingly cultivate silently in places unseen, preparing a smooth path for brothers and sisters who come after me. Lord Jesus, teach me to let go of my attachment to self-achievement and instead pursue that eternal fruit. May my life be like that grain of wheat, dying in silence, and rising again and multiplying in Your will. May every chisel I make become a crack through which the light of Your truth penetrates this world. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.