Count the Cost

 Today in Chapel we were told in the beginning that this chapel was to encourage our hearts for those of us that desired to go into the mission field or ministry. The teacher today was a missionary from south Africa a grad of TMC and TMS. Anyways i found it refreshing and helpful to remember what being a missionary really means. Prof Horner, often says that we tend to make the Victorian age in England perfect in our minds and forget the harsh realities of the day, I believe we also do this when we think of missionaries we tend to glorify them in our mind from all the books that can be read on the subject. The passage that we went to was II Corinthians 11:16 till the end of the chapter. Here the Apostle Paul is giving his long list of all the times he has suffered for the Lord's name. One of the quotes that hit me was by Charles H, Spurgeon, " While some float through flowery clouds others must fight through bloody seas."  Our speaker said that he believes missionaries are those that are called to suffer the longest and hardest for Christ. It was good to listen and examine my heart and see how I think of missionaries and how i think on the subject!! All I know is Lord please use these feeble knees and yet awake this passionately loyal heart of mine for You more than ever before.