Living In The Light

August 19, True Missionary Spirit

Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
—Romans 8:9 LL 245.1

The true missionary spirit is the spirit of Christ. The world’s Redeemer was the great model missionary. Many of His followers have labored earnestly and unselfishly in the cause of human salvation; but no person’s labor can bear comparison with the self-denial, the sacrifice, the benevolence, of our Exemplar. LL 245.2

The love which Christ has evinced for us is without a parallel. How earnestly He labored! How often was He alone in fervent prayer, on the mountainside or in the retirement of the garden, pouring out His supplications with strong crying and tears. How perseveringly He urged His petitions in behalf of sinners! Even on the cross He forgot His own sufferings in His deep love for those whom He came to save. How cold our love, how feeble our interest, when compared with the love and interest manifested by our Savior! Jesus gave Himself to redeem our race; and yet how ready are we to excuse ourselves from giving all that we have for Jesus. Our Savior submitted to wearing labor, ignominy, and suffering. He was repulsed, mocked, derided, while engaged in the great work which He came to earth to do. LL 245.3

Do you, my brethren and sisters, inquire: What model shall we copy? I do not point you to great and good men and women, but to the world’s Redeemer. If we would have the true missionary spirit we must be imbued with the love of Christ; we must look to the Author and Finisher of our faith, study His character, cultivate His spirit of meekness and humility, and walk in His footsteps. LL 245.4

Many suppose that the missionary spirit, the qualification for missionary work, is a special gift or endowment bestowed upon the ministers and a few members of the church and that all others are to be mere spectators. Never was there a greater mistake. Every true Christian will possess a missionary spirit, for to be a Christian is to be Christlike. No person liveth to themself, and “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” Everyone who has tasted of the powers of the world to come, whether he be young or old, learned or unlearned, will be stirred with the spirit which actuated Christ. The very first impulse of the renewed heart is to bring others also to the Savior.— Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 385, 386. LL 245.5

Further Reflection: Take a moment to ponder how Jesus labored for your salvation. LL 245.6