Richard Francis Xavier Manning, known as Brennan Manning an American author once remarked: “What makes authentic disciples is not visions, ecstasies, biblical mastery of chapter and verse, or spectacular success in the ministry, but a capacity for faithfulness. Buffeted by the fickle winds of failure, battered by their own unruly emotions, and bruised by rejection and ridicule, authentic disciples may have stumbled and frequently fallen, endured lapses and relapses, gotten handcuffed to the fleshpots and wandered into a far county. Yet, they kept coming back to Jesus.” Ephesians 4:11- reminds us: “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”
A missionary is defined as a person sent on a religious mission, especially one to promote Christianity. They follow in the steps of an Apostle of Jesus Christ. During the ministry of Jesus, He was accompanied by twelve renowned chief disciples who learnt from Him and assisted in His endeavours. They were named: Peter, James, John, Andrew, Bartholomew, James the younger, Judas, Jude, Matthew, Philip, Simon the Zealot and Thomas.
After His ascension, all with the exception of Judas, were assigned the important task of spreading the “Good News” which offered people a distinct alternative to a humanity devoid of true hope and expectation. Acts 1:8 confirms: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Throughout His earthly existence, Jesus constantly provided the necessary food and nourishment to furnish the essential tools for His disciples to continue in their assigned roles of teaching and healing subsequent to His ascension into heaven. Just as pruning essentially provides new life to trees, roses and the like, so knowledge imparts growth and skills to progress forward. From out of the old comes the new. Proverbs 24:5 confirms: “A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might.”
A capacity for faithfulness needs to remain prominent if we are to flourish in a personal quest to continue in the teachings of Jesus against the adversity which consistently prevails in life. Progress was often significantly hindered by events and obstacles placed in the disciple’s path by officialdom and non-believers. Rejection and ridicule were constantly encountered, but strength and determination to succeed combined with fortitude eventually won through. William Arthur Ward, an American motivational writer once remarked: “Teaching is more than imparting knowledge; it is inspiring change. Learning is more than absorbing facts; it is acquiring understanding.” Luke 6:40 states: “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”
A story is told of a couple, Scott and Penelope in their early forties. They had both been regular churchgoers in their childhood and teen years. They had met twenty years earlier while they were both at the same university. They immediately fell in love. Penelope had been studying English and English Literature with the intention of becoming a teacher. Scott had an ambition to be a high achiever. He studied computer science with the intention of forming his own company.
They married while still at university and it wasn’t long before their first child, a girl, was born. However, this prevented Penelope from pursuing her vocation in teaching following the successful completion of her degree. James 3:1 states: “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” Two years later they were blessed with their second child, a boy and the family felt complete. Shortly after leaving university, Scott attained his own computer programming business which became extremely successful. However, the long hours of work input eventually took their toll and began to give him health problems. He was constantly tired, stressed and very seldom saw his wife and children.
His wife began to feel neglected and petty arguments often ensued as a result. Even though they had no money problems as such, they spent little time together to enjoy life. The wife often felt that the family was incomplete and their togetherness lacked the necessary unity that provided happiness.
When the children attained school leaving age, both decided to further their education by attending university which entailed leaving the nest. Each read a separate subject in their chosen degree course. The male child chose law and the female, philosophy. The wife no longer had anything in life to replace her feeling of loneliness after the children had left and suffered even more as a result.
One particular day, after very careful thought and consideration, she decided that her life was no longer achieving fruitfulness and packed her bags to leave her husband. She had long felt a distinct calling to help those less fortunate than herself, so she journeyed to London where she explored the possibility with a Christian Missionary Association which was able to provide the opportunity to fulfil her lifelong ambition of teaching.
She offered her services as an English teacher in a mission based in Africa. With her university qualifications, she was welcomed with open arms by the institution and soon found herself on the road to a new life. 2 Timothy 2:2 reminds us: “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
When the husband returned from work on the evening she had decided to leave him, he found the house empty and a letter from his wife informing him of her decision and the reasons why. She informed him that she still loved him but was unable to continue as they were. He felt devastated as he assumed that his long hours at work not only provided an adequate income to provide some luxuries in life, but additionally provided security for the family. He was forced to rethink his misguided position and came to the conclusion that the possession of money did not always provide happiness.
As he loved his wife very deeply, the thought of living the remainder of his life without the woman he loved was too great to bear. He decided to sell his business and follow his wife to Africa in the hope of reuniting and saving his marriage. He was fortunate enough to find her, they reconciled their failing relationship and together they formed and lived a new life of Christian happiness helping and teaching others in need. Matthew 28:19-20 confirms: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Amen.
