Daily Devotion

Robert Morrison's self-questioning on his voyage to China challenges our definition of "success." We often assess risks from a safe distance, waiting for the door to open, neglecting the fact that the core of the calling lies in responding in the present moment. On board ship Morrison felt his studies were too much for him, yet he asked himself whether God would not open a door for the gospel into China, and whether he ought not to trust in Him. Dispelling darkness doesn't require waiting for the sun to rise; change begins as long as someone is willing to let a glimmer of light through a closed door. Isaiah's "Here I am" wasn't about choosing after seeing the path ahead, but about a complete surrender upon hearing the Lord's voice. Reflecting on our lives, have we become dulled by excessive calculation of gains and losses? True service often begins with that reckless "set out." Even if what we can do is insignificant, as long as we stand in the position of the Lord's calling, that "light through the crack" has eternal value.