I just
love my morning reading. God always places a field of gold nuggets before me.
It is a treasure trove of spiritual delight. The story below jumped out at me
because of my heart for the mission field. It is one I will store and share as
I help prepare people for the mission field. After reading it, ask yourself how
you would have reacted in the same situation.
Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground
are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it,
and bring forth fruit with patience.
An official of a mission board, who
knew it takes more than just desire to make a missionary, was appointed to
examine a candidate for the mission field. He told the young man to be at his
house at six o’clock in the morning.
The young man complied and arrived a six
o’clock sharp. The examiner kept him sitting alone in the room until ten. Then
he finally came in and said abruptly, “Young man, can you write your name?” A
little taken aback by the simplicity of his question, the man paused.
Before he
could get a word out, the examiner blurted, “What, you don’t know what it is?”
The mission board official put him through a series of questions of that nature
and then went to report to the mission board.
“Okay,” he said, “he will do. I tried
his patience for hours and hours and he did not break down; Then, I insulted
him and he did not lose his temper. This candidate answered with patience,
fortitude, and gentleness. His faith was vindicated by the very quality of his
character. He will make a good missionary.”
Whether we realize it or not — we all
are in the mission field. Our patience is bound to be tested in ways we’ve
never imagined and we’ll most likely find it unfair and unkind at times. But
standing strong in the Lord in the face of offensive treatment and enduring
seasons of long-suffering is a testimony in and of itself — and that will win
souls!
By the very nature of the work, missionaries venture into areas where
Christian-like behaviors are not the norm. Perhaps we find the same sort of
situations in our neighborhood grocery store parking lots or workplace.
It is
not a matter of whether or not we find hard and harsh situation but how we
react to them when they are present. Your day will bring something to test you;
some days the testing is tougher than others but you most certainly will be
tested. We are to be like the young candidate in the story as representatives
of Lord. “… This candidate answered with
patience, fortitude, and gentleness. His faith was vindicated by the very
quality of his character. He will make a good missionary.” What does our
attitudes and behavior say about us?
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