The Making of a Missionary

What is a missionary? It is a person who is sent to do that certain job—often it is the task of telling others about Jesus. The missionary may go to a foreign land, but it is also possible to be a missionary in your own neighborhood.

Do you have to be big to have a mission? No, it just means you have something important to do. Most children have at least one special thing they need to do every day, even if it seems like a chore. But those chores won’t seem so dull or boring if you imagine them as missions and make a goal to do them really well. The Bible says, “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23, 24). If we put our whole heart into doing something, it will turn out much better. Jesus is willing to be there by our side to help us if we only ask Him.

What about being a missionary? A missionary does not need to be big and grown up. A missionary just needs to have a big picture in mind. What kind of picture? The missionary thinks of others as souls to be won to Jesus and obtain eternal life through His amazing grace. So if you are thinking that way, how will you act toward people? You will probably be really nice and helpful in whatever ways you can to everybody. Guess what happens then? If, by God’s grace, you continue enduring by faith to see at last the kingdom of heaven, those people will be symbolized as beautiful stars in your crown!

Ellen White once wrote: “My dear young friends, Are you preparing for Christ’s coming? Do you, in all your actions, seek to glorify God? I have greatly feared that many of you who profess the religion of Christ are careless and will be found wanting when the destiny of everyone shall be fixed.

“Jesus is now pleading for you in the Sanctuary. You can now come to Him and He will give you strength. He will wash away your sins if you truly repent of them and humbly and earnestly seek His pardon. He knows your weakness and is ready to have compassion upon you, although you may have sinned much against Him. Some of you may have faults that it seems hard for you to correct and overcome. You may feel discouraged at times and think that it is impossible to live out religion; but do not give over the effort. Be determined to get the victory over yourself. You can live out your profession. You can set a good example to your friends and associates. . . .

“He that died for you will be ever ready to listen to your earnest prayer for help to overcome your faults, that you may be a sincere Christian and glorify God.”—The Youth’s Instructor, May, 1, 1854.

This will help you be a successful missionary every day!