Everlasting Love

# Eternal Love

In the book "A Servant at the Margins of History" by Reverend Sam James, he shared in Chapter 3 about God's calling—the night when he truly became a Baptist missionary to Vietnam. Before that night, his family had been robbed of nearly everything in their home. His car had its battery stolen and could no longer run. Then the Seminary facility was also broken into, with sound equipment and other tools taken away. They had lost almost everything they possessed for teaching, ministry, and supporting their family! In his heart, Reverend James was deeply angry at the Vietnamese people, thinking they were ungrateful and had stolen all the possessions from his family and the Seminary. He and his wife also had three small children. Misfortunes kept piling up one after another—"troubles never come alone"—and he decided to return to America, believing he could no longer do missionary work. But the morning before his family was to leave, he had to call a taxi to take him home, since his car had lost its battery. On the way, the taxi driver asked Reverend James, "You've been in Vietnam a long time, haven't you?" Reverend James replied, "Yes, I've been here for many years." Then the driver asked further, "So surely you must like the Vietnamese people?" Reverend James could not answer honestly at all, because so many unexpected things had happened in recent days—robberies of all their possessions, the Seminary being looted, the permit application to build an orphanage being denied by the authorities... But that question pierced Reverend James's heart. That night he couldn't sleep. He read the Bible and prayed earnestly with God throughout the night. After that, he heard God's voice saying, "My child, you are not in Vietnam because you love the Vietnamese people. You are here because I love them. I want to love them through you." From that moment on, Reverend James understood that he came to Vietnam because God wanted to spread the Gospel to the Vietnamese, and he was merely an instrument for God to use for this purpose. If he loved God, then he must allow God to use him to minister to the Vietnamese people. The next morning, he felt joyful and at peace. He decided to stay in Vietnam with his whole family, ministering for nearly fifteen years until 1975, when the war situation became critical and forced all missionaries to leave Vietnam!

Thank God, "He loved those who were his own in the world, and loved them to the end" (John 13:1b). His eternal, infinite, and boundless love accomplished all things! He changed the heart of Reverend Sam James with His love in a miraculous way, and through this the Gospel reached many places throughout our beloved Vietnam! Praise be to the Name of God above all names of this world! "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever" (1 Chronicles 16:34). As we begin the new year 2024, may His eternal love overflow in our hearts, so that we may live for God, work for God, and manifest His unfailing love to all nations, from now until the day Jesus Christ returns! Thank you, Lord! Amen!

God's love, eternal and everlasting, No one else can save mankind, Only He alone, none beside, Jesus Christ, holy and almighty!

God's love, unchanging and steadfast, Guides us along the right path, In His strength we ever find refuge, Thanks to God, forever loving and merciful!

Topics