March 31, 2026
— William Milne · Source: A Retrospect of the First Ten Years of the Protestant Mission to China (1820), Appendix
Isaiah 55:11 So it is with the words that come out of my mouth: They will not return to me empty-handed, but will accomplish what I desire and will prosper in what I sent them to do.
In 1815 in Malacca, Milne founded the Chinese Monthly Magazine (Chashisu Meiyue Tongjizhuan), the first modern Chinese-language periodical produced for Chinese readers. He was convinced that the written word could go "to places whither his feet can never travel, and to a people whom his eyes shall never see," and he called such books "the silent messengers of salvation." In this fragmented, fast-paced era, we often pursue instant interaction and popularity, neglecting the kind of work that settles deep and outlasts time. Even if what we do is only small sowing—writing a sincere reflection, recording a spiritual struggle, or translating a classic text—these seeds may, years later, quietly open someone's heart in a corner we have never set foot in. God's word "shall not return unto me void"; do we value this kind of ministry, and are we willing to invest enduring patience and craftsmanship in it?
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your foresight through Milne, which has allowed me to understand the eternal power contained in words. Lord, forgive me for sometimes valuing immediate applause too much, neglecting the value of silent sowing and the testimony of words. Lord Jesus, bless the pen in my hand and every word I share, so that they may become silent messengers, carrying the message of Your life to places I cannot go. Use my small service to knock on the doors of people I will never see, whose hearts thirst for truth. May Your "living and everlasting Word" be manifested through my weakness. Strengthen my patience, Lord, and let me firmly believe that everything I do for You will not be in vain in Your hands, but will ultimately accomplish what pleases You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.