Inspiration From the Life of David Livingstone

The life of David Livingstone is a source of great inspiration to me.  He began his missionary pursuits in 1838 to Africa where he had 3 goals.  First, to make Christ known.  Secondly, to find the source of the Nile River and open trade to the West.  Last, he wanted to abolish the slave trade.  He experienced many hardships along the way.  Over his entire time in Africa he traveled some 30,000 miles, most of it on foot.  One of his arms had been rendered useless - the result of a lion attack.  His body bore physical evidence of the suffering he had endured with 27 bouts of jungle fever.  What sustained him?  He was asked this very question and he replied, "It is the promise of a noble gentleman, 'Lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world.' "  When he died in Africa, they took his heart out of his body and buried it in Africa that he so loved.
          I wonder today how many of us would suffer to share the gospel with others?  I wonder what my own reaction would be if I went to share Christ and the Lord allowed a lion to attack me?  Would I continue?   Would I question His goodness?  We will probably never be called to suffer this way for our faith.  What sacrifice can we make?  Let's start right where we are today and begin to serve Him at work and at home.  He is either Lord of all or not at all.  We are either serving God or man.  Let us begin today to love without hypocrisy, to lead with diligence and be the people He designed us to be.  In closing, let us adopt one of David Livingstone's own adages:

          "I will place no value on anything I have or possess, except in its relationship to the Kingdom of God."

                                        May God richly bless you as you serve Him,

                                                               John Wardy