I have just finished reading a very challenging book written for missionaries. I would, however, dare say it should be applied to all Christians. The book is entitled, “Have We No Right?”, and it speaks of giving up what we would consider normal rights as missionaries [Christians].
Chapter titles are:
The right to what I consider a normal standard of living.
The right to the ordinary safeguards of good health.
The right to regulate my private affairs as I wish.
The right to privacy.
The right to my own time.
The right to a normal romance, if any.
The right to a normal home life.
The right to live with the people of my choice.
The right to feel superior.
The right to run things.
As you read these titles, is there anything in there about which you find yourself cringing? There are a few areas that make me cringe, and that I am having to live through them right now. I am such a weak Christian – weak in living for Christ, but strong in demanding my rights!
The final chapter is a poem that I would like to quote, but I wish to give all credit to the author, Mabel Williamson, who worked with China Inland Mission. The book is published by Moody Press.
He Had No Rights
He had no rights:
No right to a soft bed, and a well-laid table;
No right to a home of His own, a place where His own pleasure might be sought;
No right to choose pleasant, congenial companions, those who could understand Him and sympathize with Him;
No right to shrink away from filth and sin, to pull His garments closer around Him and turn aside to walk in cleaner paths;
No right to be understood and appreciated; no, not by those upon whom He had poured out a double portion of His love;
No right even never to be forsaken by His Father, the One who meant more than all to Him.
His only right was silently to endure shame, spitting, blows; to take His place as a sinner at the dock; to bear my sins in anguish on the cross.
He had no rights. And I?
A right to the “comforts” of life? No, but a right to the love of God for my pillow.
A right to physical safety? No, but a right to the security of being in His will.
A right to love and sympathy from those around me? No, but a right to the friendship of the One who understands me better than I do myself.
A right to be a leader among men? No, but the right to be led by the One to whom I have given my all, led as is a little child, with its hand in the hand of its father.
A right to a home, and dear ones? No, not necessarily; but a right to dwell in the heart of God.
A right to myself? No, but, oh, I have a right to Christ.
All that He takes I will give;
All that He gives I will take;
He, my only right!
He, the one right before which all other rights fade into nothingness.
I have full right to Him;
Oh, may He have full right to me!
Thanks for sharing!! to often as christians we do not reflect often enough on what He redeemed us from and/or what He redeemed us to.
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