I've been doing some reading on William Booth - in the early days preceding his birthing of the Salvation Army. This man really was a man of worth!
He had a calling. He knew it. His wife knew it (as with her own calling). But even so, they faced many roadblocks placed on their path to fulfilling this calling. The most interesting part, is that many of these 'roadblocks' were created by church leaders, and even his friends in committees of those churches. His ideas were too 'out there' for them. They wanted to stay in the cosy walls of their churches with rules & regulations...he wanted to go out and save those who were rejected from these walls... go right into the battle ground & rescue people from their inner wars. Reach out instead of 'shut out' (eg, refusing entry to churches).
This man had passion! He had determination. He knew who he was and whose he was - he was not going to miss his calling, not matter what came against him and his family. It must have been a frustrating journey at times...but he was rewarded for his obedience and determination. Many souls were saved.
Makes me think of Jesus....and how often he was ridiculed and rejected by the religious leaders of his day. He knew his calling - he was the son of God! He was not going to let these religious leaders stop him from fulfilling his calling.
Like Booth, he didn't want to go against them, but neither could he work with them.
I still have a lot more reading to do, but I am beginning to see just how big this man was - how he knew his calling, and was so determined to do God's will - despite what came against him.
Like World Wars 1 & 2, we often forget what people have sacrificed for us. Many of us are of generations who have not experienced war first-hand. We take so much freedom for granted because that's the way it has always been for us.
William Booth fought for us. He sacrificed for us. He saw the mission and did his best to fulfil it.
Imagine what this world would be like if men like him refused to do what God had called them to do... I don't think the Salvation Army would not have existed, had he not taken his calling seriously, but I don't think it would be the same.... I think we need to thank God for men like William Booth - God's First choice for the Salvation Army. Men who fought the battles and left a legacy for generations to come.
He had a calling. He knew it. His wife knew it (as with her own calling). But even so, they faced many roadblocks placed on their path to fulfilling this calling. The most interesting part, is that many of these 'roadblocks' were created by church leaders, and even his friends in committees of those churches. His ideas were too 'out there' for them. They wanted to stay in the cosy walls of their churches with rules & regulations...he wanted to go out and save those who were rejected from these walls... go right into the battle ground & rescue people from their inner wars. Reach out instead of 'shut out' (eg, refusing entry to churches).
This man had passion! He had determination. He knew who he was and whose he was - he was not going to miss his calling, not matter what came against him and his family. It must have been a frustrating journey at times...but he was rewarded for his obedience and determination. Many souls were saved.
Makes me think of Jesus....and how often he was ridiculed and rejected by the religious leaders of his day. He knew his calling - he was the son of God! He was not going to let these religious leaders stop him from fulfilling his calling.
Like Booth, he didn't want to go against them, but neither could he work with them.
I still have a lot more reading to do, but I am beginning to see just how big this man was - how he knew his calling, and was so determined to do God's will - despite what came against him.
Like World Wars 1 & 2, we often forget what people have sacrificed for us. Many of us are of generations who have not experienced war first-hand. We take so much freedom for granted because that's the way it has always been for us.
William Booth fought for us. He sacrificed for us. He saw the mission and did his best to fulfil it.
Imagine what this world would be like if men like him refused to do what God had called them to do... I don't think the Salvation Army would not have existed, had he not taken his calling seriously, but I don't think it would be the same.... I think we need to thank God for men like William Booth - God's First choice for the Salvation Army. Men who fought the battles and left a legacy for generations to come.
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