“What advice do you have for life?” a young Christian asked. My friend’s wise reply was, “No Bible, no breakfast”—a pithy (concise and meaningful) reminder to seek first the kingdom of God even before the pursuit of daily bread. I try to follow this advice.

Listening to an Oriental Magpie-Robin sing praises to God outside our guestroom this second morning in Bangkok, I struggle through the fog of jet lag to spend time in God’s word and reconsecrate my life to Him for the day. Reading in Matthew, I pause at verses 9:37–38, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” A clear conviction focuses my befuddled brain and calls me to attention—Jesus is looking for harvesters, not picnickers in the rice paddy. My heart cries out, “Lord, please make me a missionary and not a vacationary. Use me today to advance your kingdom.”

The day appears uneventful. It is Sabbath, and I go to church, where I meet and interact with different people. I attend a youth meeting at another church in the afternoon, where a young man approaches me for advice. I pray for him. In the evening we visit with friends.

Each day of our first week in Thailand has a similar theme. Duang and I begin the morning in the Bible and reconsecration to God. Then we interact with people as we go about our business. At the end of the week, we look back at the various interactions with nothing remarkable to write home about.

Isaiah and James tell us that Abraham was the friend of God. And yet, in his 175 years, we have only a handful of stories. How did his diary read? How many remarkable stories would we discover if we could read the daily logbook of his life? And then there is Enoch. He walked with God, but except for the few words in Genesis, Hebrews, and Jude, we don’t know how that looked.

And yet, this walk is our longing. We yearn for a daily nearness to God that will bear fruit for His kingdom. God promises unlimited results to those who fully commit themselves to Him. “There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart and lives a life wholly consecrated to God.” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 159.) What a blessed promise!

So our main task is one of surrender and consecration. We may not always see the results, but by faith, we claim the promise. Please pray that we may surrender to Christ daily and that He will fulfill His purpose through us here in Thailand.

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