April 12. Robert Murray M’Cheyne. Two resolutions marked Robert’s ministry. One: Never rest until you accomplish your task. Two: Never hurry in a way that prevents the Holy Spirit from calming your heart.
Robert—the son of a Scottish lawyer—spent his early life in comfort and luxury, but when his older brother died, Robert looked for a life of deep communion with God.
He got his education and entered the ministry. From the outset, Robert suffered from frequent illness and sensed that his time on earth would be short. But he was determined to make every moment count. His life had been saved by Jesus, and it belonged to Jesus. Robert wouldn’t waste a minute.
About this resolution, he wrote, “As I was walking in the fields, the thought came over me with almost overwhelming power, that every one of my flock must soon be in heaven or hell.”
With some friends, on this date in 1839, Robert left London for a six-month journey to Palestine. It was a fact-finding mission to learn about the spiritual condition of the Jewish people living there. Today’s story starts with Robert returning from his trip. It was time to tell his congregation all about the trip, right?
A life lived for God’s glory leaves an eternal legacy.
When Robert returned from an exhausting—yet very fruitful—six-month missionary journey ministering to the Jews in Israel, M’Cheyne made his way to his church, gave thanks to the Lord, encouraged his flock, and then led them in prayer. After this, he preached for an hour.
Although a great revival had occurred during his absence under the ministry of his assistant William Burns, M’Cheyne was unwilling for even a single member of his church to miss out on the grace of salvation. “He seized that opportunity, not to tell of his journeyings, but to show the way of life to sinners.”
When he left the church that night, he found the road to his house blocked by congregants who were waiting to welcome him back. Did he politely greet them and go on home for a much-needed respite?
M’Cheyne shook hands with every one of them, many at the same time, and since they’d gathered, he felt compelled to speak some words of life to them again. Out on the road, he stood and prayed with them as long as they would pray.
A month later, when preaching at his church one Sunday afternoon, M’Cheyne once again demonstrated his unyielding passion for the Lord when he said, “Dearly beloved, I now begin another year of my ministry among you; and I am resolved, if God give me health and strength, that I will not let a man, woman, or child among you alone, until you have at least heard the testimony of God concerning his Son, either to your condemnation or salvation.”
M’Cheyne died four years later during an epidemic of typhus. He was 29 years old, and his ministry had lasted less than six-and-a-half years. But although his life and work were short, much like our Lord Jesus,’ his influence has been longlasting.
M’Cheyne did not let anything distract him from pursuing Christ every day, not even the intense suffering he endured in his body.
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom,” (Psalm 90: 12, NIV).
Today, his powerful sermons, love for the Word of God, and life of communion with Christ still inspire countless believers worldwide.
Are you making every day count for Jesus? A life lived for God’s glory leaves an eternal legacy.
“Robert Murray M’Cheyne: His Life.” Banner of Truth, Issue 4, December 1955, pp. 14–23. Transcribed for digital transmission by David F. Haslam. Copyright 2019. Accessed August 1, 2020. https://www.mcheyne.info/his-life/.
Bonar, Andrew. Memoir and Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne. Banner of Truth, 1966
https://www.mcheyne.info/life.php
Story read by Blake Mattocks