A friend who has recently been reading through David Brainerd’s biography shared with me a stirring passage from Brainerd’s journal. What motivated this man — who spent years in sacrifice and service of the gospel, and eventually died an early death for the spread of it — to continue laboring in the face of excruciating pain and disappointment?
The overarching, undergirding concern “that God might be known to be God in the whole earth” and that “God have the glory forever.” In other words, a concern that God’s name be exalted in front of every person, no matter how he or she responds.
May this be our driving passion as well, that “all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!” (Psalm 33:8).
As God drew near to Brainerd’s soul, his soul was strengthened to see the worthiness of his God.
As God drew near to Brainerd’s soul, his soul was strengthened to see the worthiness of his God:
“In evening prayer God was pleased to draw near my soul, though very sinful and unworthy: was enabled to wrestle with God, and to persevere in my requests for grace…
My soul was concerned, not so much for souls as such, but rather for Christ’s kingdom, that it might appear in the world, that God might be known to be God in the whole earth.
And, oh, my soul abhorred the very thought of a party in religion! Let the truth of God appear, wherever it is; and God have the glory for ever. Amen. This was indeed a comfortable season. I thought I had some small taste of, and real relish for, the enjoyments and employments of the upper world. O that my soul was more attempered to it!”