A while ago I read a talk called "The Fourth Missionary". Well last week I reread it and I'd like to share a little bit of it with you. There are four types of missionary's (and people). The first missionary is disobedient and goes home early. The second missionary is disobedient but he some how finishes his mission but it doesn't benefit home or the people he serves and he lives his whole life with regret. The third missionary is obedient and hardworking but he withholds his heart. He does what the Lord wants, but he wants to do what he wants to do. Many people benefit from his service but he does not benefit personally from it. He is not changed by his mission. The fourth missionary, like the third missionary, works hard and is obedient, but unlike the third missionary, he gives himself. He gives his will to the Lord. He surrenders all of his heart and in his head he lets go of what he wants to do. He wants to do the Lord's will .C.S. Lewis said “Give me all of you!!! I don’t want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money, and so much of your work. I want YOU!!! ALL OF YOU!! I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man or woman, but to KILL IT! No half measures will do. I don’t want to only prune a branch here and a branch there; rather I want the whole tree out! Hand it over to me, the whole outfit, all of your desires, all of your wants and wishes and dreams. Turn them ALL over to me, give yourself to me and I will make of you a new self---in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange I will give you Myself. My will, shall become your will. My heart, shall become your heart.”
The fourth missionary does great good for those he serves and he also benefits personally from his service. He is changed. Working by myself I will create an ordinary man, but by surrendering myself to him, he will create a God. It sounds hard, giving everything up to him, but it is in the end easier. At the beginning of my mission I was a hardcore third missionary. I had my own desires and thought a lot about how great it would be once I'm home. But through surrendering and consecrating myself to the Lord, I've been able to leave those desires behind. I love this work. I invite everyone of you to take a look at yourself and decide which missionary you are and make some changes in your life if necessary. It will make all the difference.
I love you!!!