by Andy Johnson

MRN Missionary Care Director & Prayer Coordinator

This morning during my reading, I got to hear Luke tell of the birth of John the Baptist. Given to old parents who had seemingly been kept childless for this moment (a tough lot to draw in life), he was born to go ahead of Someone Else. The child of a promise himself, he spent his life preparing the way for Another. While we know he remained faithful to the end and also gave us that wonderful, pithy description of dying-to-self in John 3.30 (He must become greater; I must become less.), I have to believe his life – or at least his inner dialogue – could not have been that simple.

John’s disciples certainly wrestled with this as they watched their master’s Master take center stage. John shut down their clamoring about setting Jesus in His place by testifying "I am not the Messiah." However, perhaps it’s my cynical side or maybe the Missionary Care Director side who’s walked with missionaries deeply struggling with dying to self, but I have to wonder what that would have been like for John.

The missionaries you love and support are good people. They want to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. They want His Kingdom to come. They want to see their friends enter into a thriving relationship with Jesus.

They are also real people who’ve made real sacrifices and wouldn’t mind a little notice. They want to see the Kingdom come, and they certainly don’t want their own kingdom, but they – like James and John - probably wouldn’t mind an assured place in His. They want to tell His stories, but they likely struggle with how to tell of their role in His stories. They want supporters back home to praise their Father in Heaven for the good works He’s doing, but they also struggle with how to make clear that their presence matters where they are.

Dying to self isn’t easy.

As your missionaries prepare to celebrate the first coming of the Christ far from their extended families and thus are feeling the weight of their personal sacrifices a little more than usual, join me in praying:

That they would know they were born to prepare the way for Another;
That they would have the strength to be living sacrifices who choose not to keep crawling off the altar;
That they would become less and that He would be greater.
That they would know their Father in Heaven sees them and wants them to be a part of the story He’s been telling since before time began.

The One who Came is still coming, friends! Be strong in prayer until He does.

Peace.

Are you interested in preparing the way for Jesus to come to the unreached people of the world?

We can help!

Email start_the_journey@mrnet.org to talk about it.

Becoming Less So He Becomes More