On his first visit to Asia, things did not go well for Hudson Taylor, the English missionary who would found the China Inland Mission. Even though he brought modern medicine to the Chinese, he was received poorly and called a “white devil” by many of the people he sought to reach with the Gospel.

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection…becoming like him. Philippians 3:10

On his second visit to China, Taylor took a different tact. He and his fellow missionaries donned Chinese clothing and endeavored to embrace the oriental culture, so far as it was not inconsistent with God’s Word. He also realized – when no one else did – that Chinese women played a bigger role in influencing young people morally, so Taylor recruited female missionaries. Both of these then-unthinkable strategies were widely criticized in England, but Taylor was undeterred. “My great business in life is to please God,” he said.

Becoming like Jesus doesn’t mean methods never change. They often will, and must, for you to be effective in declaring His message with others. As you pray for America today, ask God for wisdom in how to best share His resurrection power with those around you. And remember that your business is not to please others, but God.

Recommended Reading: Galatians 1:6-17