One of the most amazing stories I’ve ever heard should inspire each of us fathers to make a difference in our family tree — beginning with our own family. About seven generations ago, a young Englishman named James Taylor led a rather worldly life, even opposing a revival in his own town. But on his wedding day, he could not erase from his mind a verse of Scripture he had memorized as a youngster — Joshua 24:15, “As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord!” With the Holy Spirit applying the pressure, he was under conviction all day — the day of his wedding (an evening wedding). Finally, he surrendered to the Lord. He put his faith in Christ as his Savior, and said, “Yes, we shall serve the Lord!” His new bride was dismayed. But in a few short days she also accepted the love of God in receiving Christ as her personal Savior. Together they established a Christian home.
What is remarkable about that story? James Taylor began a family line of generations serving God. His great-grandson was J. Hudson Taylor, one of the the world’s foremost missionaries — a pioneer missionary to China who founded the China Inland Mission. Today that same mission is known as the Overseas Missionary Fellowship. Recently the new director of the OMF was named — the great-grandson of J. Hudson Taylor, the founder.
Wow! That is seven generations from the commitment James Taylor made on his wedding day, “As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord!” What if James Taylor had decided to do something else with his life?
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