Today is Jan Hus (John Huss) day in Czech Republic. On July 6, 1415, Jan Hus was martyred for his faith in Christ in the city of Prague. He was a man who believed what God’s Word says and was willing to put his own life down for the cause of Christ. Considered a pre-Reformer-Reformer, he influenced Martin Luther who eventually started and led the Reformation 100 years later.
It is men like Jan Hus who inspire Christians and missionaries, especially me. It could be said that he did more in his death than in his life, though his life was full of courage, conviction, and care for the cause of Christ. I feel honored and proud to stand on the shoulders of Jan Hus and carry on the work that he paid the ultimate price for. What an example of Christ-likeness we see in Jan Hus who was willing to lay down his own life, just like the Savior he loved.
I do not know how many Czechs will stop and consider today the great sacrifice this man made, but I can only pray that God would spark another spiritual fire in this country with men and women like Hus. May the gospel of Christ be carried to each and every soul in this country and would that many would turn to Christ and be willing to sacrifice everything for Him. And maybe one day, if it be the will of Christ that we too should suffer, that we too will pray “Lord Jesus Christ, I will bear patiently and humbly this horrible and shameful and cruel death for the sake of Thy Gospel and the preaching of Thy word.” – Jan Hus, July 6 1415, shortly before being burned at the stake for his faith.
John Stott on missionary motives:
If God desires every knee to bow to Jesus and every tongue to confess Him, so should we. We should be ‘jealous’ for the honor of His name—troubled when it remains unknown, hurt when it is ignored, indignant when it is blasphemed, and all the time anxious and determined that it shall be given the honor and glory which are due to it.
The highest of all missionary motives is neither obedience to the Great Commission (important as that is), nor love for sinners who are alienated and perishing (strong as that incentive is, especially when we contemplate the wrath of God), but rather zeal—burning and passionate zeal—for the glory of Jesus Christ.
Only one imperialism is Christian, and that is concern for His Imperial Majesty Jesus Christ, and for the glory of his empire or kingdom. Before this supreme goal of the Christian mission, all unworthy motives wither and die.
(via Of First Importance)
A great little reminder from John Newton:
Salvation is wholly of grace, not only undeserved but undesired by us until God is pleased to awaken us to a sense of our need of it. And then we find everything prepared that our wants require or our wishes conceive; yea, that He has done exceedingly beyond what we could either ask or think.
Salvation is wholly of the Lord and bears those signatures of infinite wisdom, power, and goodness which distinguish all His works from the puny imitations of men. It is every way worthy of Himself, a great, a free, a full, a sure salvation.
It is great whether we consider the objects (miserable, hell-deserving sinners), the end (the restoration of such alienated creatures to His image and favor, to immortal life and happiness) or the means (the incarnation, humiliation, sufferings and death of His beloved Son). It is free, without exception of persons or cases, without any conditions or qualifications, but such as He, Himself, performs in them and bestows upon them.
(via Of First Importance)
In his book Multiply, Francis Chan gives a great charge to every believer in regards to global missions. I read it this week and I think it’s worth your own consideration:
Once we start developing a passion for Christ’s glory to be seen around the world, we need to figure out what role we are called to play. Make no mistake, every Christian is called to be involved in spreading the gospel around the world! No one is off the hook. No one is called to a life that is separate from global missions. But this doesn’t mean that we all need to immediately start packing for the jungle.
God may well want you to take His gospel overseas. Too many Christians discount that possibility too quickly. Some people are too comfortable with their current lifestyle and would never dream of sacrificing their comfort for God’s glory. Others quickly assume that they are called to something else, something more normal. We shouldn’t make these assumptions. Have you ever genuinely told God that you would submit yourself to His will in this area? Right now, you should ask God if He wants you to pursue living in a different location for the sake of the gospel. It may be a terrifying thought, but we have to trust God more than we trust ourselves. We are here on this earth for His glory. God has blessed you so that you will use whatever He has given you for His glory,a not yours. Ultimately, we should expect God’s plan to lead us places that we wouldn’t naturally go.
You can read more and view videos at multiplymovement.com.