David Livingstone is no longer serving the Lord on this earth. He was born and died in the 1800s, yet his story reaches out to us even today. A part of it touched me this week and I want to share it with you, One Reader.
David came from a poor Scottish family and worked to become a physician. He used his background in medicine to become a missionary to Africa. Once in Africa, he witnessed to a tribe who did not know the gospel of Jesus. As he shared his faith with the tribe, they were pleased and asked many questions of David.
The question that broke David's heart came from the chief. He asked David why it had taken so long for the Word to get to his people? Why had the tribe's forefathers not been told?
As I pondered the chief's questions, I feel like God was asking those questions through the mouth of this chief. I think David felt the same thing. He made it his life's work to push further and further into the continent of Africa. He had a mission--a mission of the Lord. Because of his great discoveries and exploration for the Queen, he could have come home and retired a wealthy man, but he never stopped working to reach those lost without the light of the Lord. He would give his life for the Lord and would tell others that he could not consider that he had ever sacrificed anything when he considered Christ's sacrifice for him.
For me, these words resonate today:
Why has it taken so long for you to work for me? Why has it taken so long for you to put your faith in me? Why has it taken so long for you to reach out? Why do you reach out, only to turn back inward? You are full and you hold tight to your fullness. You have much and you clutch it with both fists. You speak good words, but your faith lacks; evidenced by your actions. Where is your faith? You sit in churches wondering where the people are. America, I have given you great wealth and it is locked away in retirement, investments, unused clothes, scores of shoes, depreciating vehicles, ruining houses, fleeting entertainment. You talk a good talk. You defend yourself with beautiful arguments. Do you forget my words, "And from everyone who has been given much shall much be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more (Luke 12:48b)?" Do you remember, "Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:23)?" Do you think you are not the rich man?
Pray for me, One Reader. I am praying for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment