The Reluctant Missionary

It was embarrassing. I can’t believe I responded the way I did. Even more, I can’t believe I’m going to share it with you!

For me, ministry kinda shuts down after 7 p.m. Bible studies are done. The dinner dishes are put away. It’s time to rest and recharge my emotional batteries for the next day. Saturday evening often finds me polishing my Sunday sermon. That is what I was doing last Saturday, preparing my message for the next day about “Hearing God Speak.”

At 7:30, Martha knocks on my door. “Yes, my dear, what’s up?” I asked.

“Oh, nothing really,” Martha sighs as she enters. “Just taking a break from my on-line class.”

I continue with my polishing. After about a minute, Martha says, “Well, Dad, I guess I’m a bit frustrated. I’m studying about creation and God’s purposes for us. And how a big part of that purpose is to share with others about God’s kingdom. But outside my window, I can hear voices across the street at the little store. And I bet they don’t have a relationship with Jesus. Yet, here I am inside this house and there they are across the street.”

At that point, I gave a very unmissionary response, “Well, Martha, why don’t you just close your window.”

“But Dad,” Martha continued, “I know they will still be there. And I bet no one has ever explained the gospel to them.

“So you think we need to go over there now and share the gospel with them?” I asked.

Martha simply replied, “Yep, I do.”

I did not share Martha’s urgency. “Well, Martha, I appreciate your desire and it’s good. But it’s already dark outside. It would probably be better to do it during the daytime.” I was fishing for excuses.

“Yeh, you are probably right,” Martha said slowly. But they might not be there tomorrow. And it’s just hard for me to focus on my studies while hearing their voices and knowing they will spend eternity in hell unless someone talks to them.”

By now I was getting just a tiny bit irritated. I needed to get back to polishing my message about Hearing God Speak. “Martha,” I explained, “it’s hard sometimes when an American shares with a Filipino without some kind of a relationship already established. Even if they are interested, it may take several meetings before they actually accept.”

“But Daddy,” Martha responded tenderly, “Do you remember the passage in Ezekiel 33 about the Watchman? It says that if you, the Watchman, know that danger is coming, and you don’t warn the people of that danger, then their blood will be on your hands.”

With that, my spiritually deaf ears finally heard God speaking to this reluctant missionary. “Mark, you traveled half way around the world to tell people about Me, and now you are not willing to cross the street to share?”

God convicted me. “Martha, I’m sorry. You are right, let’s go.” With my gospel trac in hand, Martha and I walked across the street and shared Jesus with the people sitting outside the little store. They listened and we prayed. Of course, only eternity will tell how the gospel impacted them, but Martha was happy.

“Oh, thank you, Daddy, so much for doing this. I’m content. I can focus now on my studies.”

I guess all of us have a street that we don't want to cross. But that is precisely why God has to speak. What is your comfort zone? Pray that all of us will be quick to respond when God speaks. And please pray for me, that next time I will not be The Reluctant Missionary.