The Word and Life

This is a story from "The Jesus Family in Communist China" by Vaughan Ree.s The leader of the Chinese Underground Church, Jing Dianying, was originally a deep-rooted Confucianist, but came to believe in Jesus in 1920 while studying at a school run by a missionary. He had had a wife, but he had abandoned her, so he was tormented by a guilty conscience. He did not love her but married her because of his parent's wishes. He never could understand her old-fashioned ways, so he sent her back to her parents' home.

However, the Bible said, "Love your wife( Ephesians 5:25)," and there certainly was no verse that added, 'if your wife is pretty or smart or kind.' Jing was deeply torn but obeyed in the end. "God, You tell me to love my wife, so I will obey." Jing went to his wife's home and asked for forgiveness. He tried to bring her home, but because of a sickness, she couldn't travel the long journey on her own.

Brother Jing was determined to obey God, so he did something that no Chinese man back then would dare to do. He walked home with his wife on his back. The moment they crossed the threshold of the house, Jing and his wife were anointed by the Holy Spirit, and after that, his wife became a great helper to him in his ministry, God honored him for the love he showed his bride.

- Walking with My Jesus by Ki-Sung Yoo