IS OUR LIFE INSPIRING OTHERS FOR THE KINGDOM GOD?

Life is precious, unquestionably. The the trajectory of our life goes this way for everyone – rich or poor, learned or ignorant, wise or fool, young or old, man or woman, good or bad – one day we are born; next day we are grown up; the following day we are old; and the day after that, we are about to die…any day…may be even right now. If this is how our fragile and fleeting life goes, then of what use is our life for the LORD Jesus, and for the kingdom of God? Do we want our life to be used for the glory of God? Do we desire our life be of use for the kingdom of God? Have we ever thought on these lines… about our life?

Let us this morning look into the life of a young and passionate servant of God who inspired people to follow His Redeemer, the LORD Jesus Christ. Dudley Tyng is a 33-year-old young pastor and a passionate preacher in the Episcopal church, in Philadelphia, USA. Dudley was forced to resign from his pastorate for speaking out against the evil of slavery, and the abominable practice of it, in the mid 1800s. Yet, he lost no enthusiasm, nor any of his passion to serve God and preach His word, uncompromisingly to His people.

On 30 March 1858 Dudley Tyng speaks to a crowd of five thousand people, as part of a daily noon-time meetings, in Philadelphia, USA. Dudley’s sermon, on that day, was based on these words – “Go now ye that are men and serve the Lord.” He publicly declares that, he would rather choose to lose his right arm, than to fail to deliver God’s message to his listeners. The people are deeply moved, and in response to Dudley’s solemn words, one thousand men give their lives to the LORD Jesus. 

Unforeseen tragedy strikes Dudley, a mere two weeks later. In a freak farm accident, his shirt sleeve gets stuck in a machine wheel, and as a result, one of his arms gets yanked from its socket. Infection develops, and the injured arm is amputated. Tragically, these medical measures do not save Dudley, and within a few days he will die. 

Dudley Tyng’s last words as witnessed by his friend and fellow preacher, Dr. George Duffield are, “Stand up for Jesus, father, and tell my brethren of the ministry to stand up for Jesus.” These dying words of his friend inspires Dr. Duffield. Touched by the words, he goes on to pen the hymn, “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus.” Dr  Duffield concludes his sermon the following Sunday by reading the lyrics of the hymn which he just wrote, “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” as a tribute to his dear friend.
– “Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross, / Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss; / From vict’ry unto vict’ry, His army shall He lead, / Till every foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed.” – First stanza

Dr  Duffield, writing the third verse includes an allusion to the strange and ironic accident of his dear friend Dudley Tyng. The third stanza goes this way…
– “Stand up, stand up for Jesus; stand in His strength alone: / The arm of flesh will fail you; ye dare not trust your own: / Put on the gospel armour, and watching unto prayer, / Where duty calls, or danger, be never wanting there.” – Third stanza

The LORD speaking through the apostle Paul, has these words for us this morning. Let us consider these words earnestly and seriously, and evaluate ourselves, our wants, our desires and our dreams, in its light.
– “7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind…17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. ​1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.” – Philippians 3:7-10,14-15a,17-4:1

Dear brothers and sisters, of what use is our life to the LORD Jesus, who gave us His very life to rescue us from eternal death? What are we living for, as we journey through our fragile and fleeting life? Is anything worthwhile desired by us? Is anything of lasting and eternal work attempted by us? Have we given our life, as a living sacrifice to the LORD, who joyfully offered His life as a sacrifice, and gave us His everything? Or, are we childishly wanting God to give us more “toys” and “trinkets” to pamper our whims and wants? What is the worth of our life, and its use, in relation to God and the work of His kingdom? Let us take time to ponder the question, IS OUR LIFE INSPIRING OTHERS FOR THE KINGDOM GOD? as we spend the first day of the Passion Week. Even so, the LORD help us.