Great Things Part 1 (10/19-22)

I Samuel 12:24 “Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you.”

The name of the movie was, “Candle in the Dark” and it was about the story of William Carey. It would be well worth watching because Carey went through many obstacles, something that stands in the way of progress or achievement or even hindrance. Carey had many hindrances which could have held him back from doing something great for God.

His theme was strong: “Expect great things; attempt great things.” I was impressed of how William Carey used his faith in God to help him through many things he had done. I had a hard time trying to decide what to write about Carey. So I will write in my own words and choose a few that impressed me the most about William Carey.

When the devotion mentioned that Carey was an ordinary man, my question was, how ordinary was he? He was born in a humble cottage in a little town in England in the year of 1761. While Carey was growing up, he didn’t have much education and he did the best he could to learn. He was an active boy and love the things boys love to do. Carey collected birds, butterflies, and animals. Carey also loved drawing and painting.

While Carey was young, he gave his heart to Jesus Christ, and was sometimes asked to speak in meetings in a little Baptist chapel which he attended. He learned the Latin grammar in six weeks and the Dutch language in a short time. He studied Greek and Hebrews without a teacher. In seven years he could read his Bible in six languages. He bought a French book and read it in three weeks.

For Carey who was an ordinary man, he really had an extraordinary faith to believe that he could do “great things for God” because he found it so easy to learn a new language. Carey ended up knowing 44 languages which included with his missionary work in India. Obviously, God honored his great faith according to Heb. 11:33-34.

There were other things that Carey had faced, he married very young at the age of 20. He had seven children altogether. Some were born in England while in India more babies were born and Carey lost 3 children. He had a job as shoemaker, but he struggled to earn enough to feed his family. His strong calling was to become the first missionary to India. There were people who looked down at him, and made fun of his enthusiastic for God about reaching the “heathen” who needs to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Nothing would stop Carey from wanting to do God’s will. Carey had problem with family issue, but eventually family went together with Carey and it took five months of sailing to reach India while his wife was having a baby. His wife’s sister came along to help. It could not have been easy, but that inspired me how Carey truly put his trust in God.  

This will continue to part two about his missionary works in India and what extraordinary faith has Carey done in the town of Serampore, India? Let’s find out, shall we? Until then, whatever you go through, may this devotion encourage you to trust God today!