Jonathan Goforth

Yesterday I heard several things about a certain missionary named Jonathan Goforth who as I read was a Canadian Missionary sent to China to do his missionary work. He started 30 some churches before he died. The two certain things I heard were these.

Seven Rules for Daily Living

1) Seek to give much, expect nothing.
2) Put the very best construction on the actions of others.
3) Never let a day pass without at least a quarter of an hour spent in the study of the Bible.
4) Never omit daily morning and evening private prayer and devotion.
5) In all things seek to know God’s Will and when known obey at any cost.
6) Seek to cultivate a quiet prayerful spirit.
7) Seek each day to do or say something to further Christianity among the heathen

Source

These are now written in my bible as well as Zechariah 4:6

"not by might nor by power, but by my spirit; says the LORD Almighty"

The second story I heard was about a woodpecker.

While the Goforths were attending a summer conference, south of Chicago, it was announced that a "brilliant speaker" was to come on a certain day for just one address. A very large expectant audience awaited him. The chairman introduced the speaker with such fulsome praise there seemed no room for the glory of God in what was to follow. The stranger had been sitting with bowed head and face hidden. As he stepped forward he stood a moment as if in prayer, then said:

"Friends, when I listen to such words as we have just been hearing I have to remind myself of the woodpecker story: A certain woodpecker flew up to the top of a high pine tree and gave three hard pecks on the side of the tree as woodpeckers are wont to do. At that instant a bolt of lightening struck the tree leaving it on the ground, a heep of splinters. The woodpecker had flown to a tree near by where it clung in terror and amazement at what had taken place. There it hung expecting more to follow, but as all remained quiet it began to chuckle to itself saying, 'Well, well, well! who would have imagined that just three pecks of my beak could have such power as that!'"

When the laughter this story caused ceased, the speaker went on, "Yes, friends, I too laughed when I first heard this story. But remember, if you or I take glory to ourselves which belongs only to Almighty God, we are not only as foolish as this woodpecker, but we commit a very grievious sin for the LORD hath said, 'My glory will I not give to another.'"

Many times Jonathan Goforth on returning from a meeting would greet his wife with, "Well, I've had to remind myself of the woodpecker tonight," or, "I've needed half a dozen woodpeckers to keep me in place." Early in life he chose for his motto, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, saith the LORD" (Zech. 4:6).

Source

I guess what this all does to me is makes me more and more aware of Gods power in things and that I am nothing. No matter if I witness to a hundred people today it is not in my power nor in my strength yet through the LORD Almighty that everything happens. It is time that I am reminded daily of the woodpecker story.