Chapter 44—The True Missionary Spirit
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 man’s labor can bear comparison with the self-denial, the sacrifice,
the benevolence, of our Exemplar.
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 Saviour! 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 Saviour 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.
Do you, my brethren and sisters, inquire: What model shall we
copy? I do not point you to great and good men, 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.
Many suppose that the missionary spirit, the qualification for mis-
sionary work, is a special gift or endowment bestowed upon the minis-
ters and a few members of the church and that all others are to be mere
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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 man liveth to himself, 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
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