for about 4-5 years now i have followed the bible reading plan of Robert Murray McCheyne (see the links on the side to see what his plan is).  and lately i’ve heard lots of people mention him and so my interest in who formulated by bible plan is stirred.  i have a thing for people who have gone before me – people who have loved jesus with a passion and poured their lives out to make a difference for His Kingdom and Robert Murray McCheyne is definitely one of those men.  his life is characterised with prayer, purity and a passion for the Word of God.  a revival broke out in his home church St. Peter’s Church of Dundee, Scotland, when he was away in israel and as you’ll read below in the short bio, thats because he became ill and had to spend much of his time confined, and thus praying.

 

McCheyne  1813-1843 
Robert Murray McCheyne was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 21, 1813. He taught himself the Greek alphabet at the age of four. He later distinguished himself as a student of Edinburgh University. 

McCheyne became pastor of St. Peter’s Church of Dundee, Scotland (Presbyterian), in 1836, after being licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Annan on July 1, 1835. At age 24, he became a member of a mission of inquiry to study the best means of evangelizing the Jews, and visited Palestine for this purpose. While there, he became ill and devoted much of his time to praying for his flock.

And, the famous revival in Dundee began in his church under the ministry of William C. Burns. It continued under McCheyne. The whole city was moved. No less than 39 prayer meetings were held weekly in connection with this church, of which five were carried on wholly by children.

McCheyne died of typhus March 25, 1843. He is buried in the churchyard of St. Peter’s. His monument contains the words: "…who died in the thirtieth year of his age and the seventh of his ministry, walking closely with God, an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity, he ceased not day and night to labor and watch for souls, and was honored by his Lord to draw many wanderers out of darkness and to the path of life."

One of the most notable characteristics of the man was the holy consistency of his daily walk. He has been called "one of the loveliest specimens of the Spirit’s workmanship." The secret of this was his habitual dependence upon the Spirit of God.

 

 

Quotes of Robert Murray McCheyne

Learn that urgency in prayer does not so much consist in vehement pleading, as in vehement believing. He that believes most the love and power of Jesus will obtain the most in prayer.

 

The Christian is a person who makes it easy for others to believe in God.

 

Remember you are God’s sword — His instrument — I trust a chosen vessel unto Him to bear His name. In great measure, according to the purity and perfections of the instrument will be the success.

 

Live near to God, and so all things will appear to you little in comparison with eternal realities.

 

It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus.

 

…do not think any sin trivial; remember it will have everlasting consequences.

 

Our God can work through means or above them. He that puts the treasure into earthen vessels, often allows the vessels to be chipped and broken, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

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