The Heart of a Missionary
It’s not about Me
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 9:19
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
If you will take time to read today’s additional scripture reading (1 Corinthians 9:19-23), you will see the heart of a missionary. A true Christ follower is a missionary whose heart is beating for others to know and follow Christ. If a person claims to have found Jesus and doesn’t care about others finding Him, it is doubtful that they themselves have truly found Jesus. God gives all of His true children a heart for others who are still in darkness.
That being said, I do believe that we must develop that initial work of God in us that we grow our love for those far from God. The Apostle Paul was willing to adapt his life to those he was with at any given moment in order to share the Good News with them. If he was with a group of Jewish people, he would accommodate himself to their customs. If he was surrounded by a group of Gentiles, he would act like a Gentile, as far as some of their customs, in order to have an opportunity to share Christ with them. Paul’s heart is summarized in 1 Corinthians 9:23, “I do all this for the sake of the Gospel that I may share in its blessings.”
We must be willing to set aside some of our comforts and routines at times in order to make others feel comfortable around us. When people relax around us there is a good chance that they will be open to our testimony about what Jesus means to us!
Father, enlarge my heart for lost family members and friends. Help me to represent you well as I live among them. In Jesus’ name, amen.