Day 16: William Carey - “Great Things”
“For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.””
Introduction
Not everything works out in life. That’s why we’re often told to lower our expectations. Even when it comes to God, the most optimistic among us might take a step back and make our expectations more “realistic.” But not William Carey. He knew just how unstoppable God can be to make His name known throughout the earth. This confidence led him to expect and attempt great things for God.
Great Things
Known as the “father of modern missions,” Carey was well aware of God’s sovereignty and how that truth leads the church to evangelism. Not everyone was on board, however. Many Christians in his day believed the Great Commission applied only to the apostles. They thought that their efforts would be pointless, even unnecessary. As a result, missions were rare, and the church’s expectations were small. Something had to change.
Fortunately, something did. In 1792, Carey delivered a sermon containing his now-famous words: “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.” He called the church to trust God’s sovereignty and refuse to limit Him. God can do anything and can save anyone. Carey also urged the church to take a step of faith by committing themselves to the Great Commission. Because of God’s power, Christians can be bold for the gospel.
After the message, people who once overlooked evangelism realized the gravity of going out to share the gospel. Hearts were awakened. His sermon directly resulted in the founding of a missions organization, and many others followed in the next decades. Carey himself lived out his words by serving in India for over 40 years and sharing the gospel. His impact was very slow and gradual, but God used him to lead people to Christ and form Christian communities.
Reflection
We all know someone who doesn’t know Jesus. Let’s pray that God may open his/her heart to the gospel and for God to use us as His messengers. We ought to always rely on God to move in that person’s life. Our efforts may often feel pointless, but nothing is impossible for our God. May we faithfully persevere and raise our expectations.