Frederick Tucker was born on 21 May, 1853, in... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord – that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
James 5:11

Frederick Tucker was born on 21 May, 1853, in north-eastern India. He was the son of a rich English family living at the height of imperialism. Together with his first wife and three associates, he founded the Salvation Army in India in 1882. His first wife died early in a cholera epidemic.

Frederick married again. His second wife, Emma, was a daughter of the founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth. With her he had nine children, three of whom died young. Emma also became seriously ill in India, so they were forced to move to America.

One evening Frederick preached about Jesus Christ being full of compassion. After the sermon, a listener addressed him reproachfully: “If your wife were to die like mine, and if your children were crying for their mother, you could no longer speak of a God of love who is compassionate!”

Just a few days later, the unthinkable happened. On her way to her husband, Emma lost her life in a railroad accident! Frederick stood with his six children at the open grave. Then the reproachful words of the listener come back to him, so he reported: “The other day someone said to me that if my wife died, I would no longer be able to proclaim that Jesus Christ is full of compassion. If this man is present, I want to tell him that the Lord Jesus is with me. Yes, my pain is very great, but today of all days Christ is my comfort.” The man in question was actually listening. Overwhelmed by Tucker’s testimony, he acknowledged and opened himself to the saving message of the gospel.

The Lord Jesus is truly the only one who can feel with us and comfort us in every situation.

Today’s reading: 1 Kings 12:1-15 · John 9:13-23