Years ago, some island missionaries...
Illustration
Years ago, some island missionaries brought the gospel to places it had never been before. A storm rose up and their vessel was shipwrecked. Fortunately, all but one of them were rescued and taken back home.
The missionary who was lost washed up on the shore of one of the smallest islands in the chain. The natives rescued him and nursed him back to health.
During this time on the island, he never preached, he never gave a testimony, he never talked about his Christian faith. However, he spent his time engaged in helpful actions toward others. If someone were sick, he sat up all night with the person. He comforted the mourning. When food was in short supply, he provided it. If a family required clothing, he found it for them. He always concerned himself with the needs of the islanders.
Ten years later, some of the same missionaries who were shipwrecked showed up on the small island. They began to tell the natives about Jesus and his kind, loving nature. The natives insisted that they knew Jesus because he lived with them. The missionaries assured them that that could not be the case. But the natives persisted and said, "Come on, we will show him to you." The natives reunited the missionaries with their long-lost partner, the man who the natives insisted was Jesus.
Without any words, by the sheer power of his witness, the shipwrecked missionary exemplified Christ.
The missionary who was lost washed up on the shore of one of the smallest islands in the chain. The natives rescued him and nursed him back to health.
During this time on the island, he never preached, he never gave a testimony, he never talked about his Christian faith. However, he spent his time engaged in helpful actions toward others. If someone were sick, he sat up all night with the person. He comforted the mourning. When food was in short supply, he provided it. If a family required clothing, he found it for them. He always concerned himself with the needs of the islanders.
Ten years later, some of the same missionaries who were shipwrecked showed up on the small island. They began to tell the natives about Jesus and his kind, loving nature. The natives insisted that they knew Jesus because he lived with them. The missionaries assured them that that could not be the case. But the natives persisted and said, "Come on, we will show him to you." The natives reunited the missionaries with their long-lost partner, the man who the natives insisted was Jesus.
Without any words, by the sheer power of his witness, the shipwrecked missionary exemplified Christ.
