I count amongst my many blessings from the Lord the ability to spend extended time overseas in the presence of those with an impassioned heart for “the least of these.” (Matthew 25:40)  These faithful servants exemplify Christ, both in character and priorities, and as such are simultaneously encouraging and challenging on a personal level.

While reading through John Ryle’s Holiness, the section below brought to mind the many faithful, overseas servants and friends “no longer living for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” (2 Cor. 5:15)

 “A holy man will follow after a spirit of benevolence and mercy toward others. He will not stand all the day idle. He will not be content with doing no harm – he will try to do good.  He will strive to be useful in his day and generation, and to lessen the spiritual wants and misery around him, as far as he can. Such was Dorcas, ‘full of good works and almsdeeds, which she did’ – not merely purposed and talked about, but did. Such a one was Paul: ‘I will very gladly spend and be spent for you,’ he says, ‘thought the more abundantly I love you the less I be loved.’ (Acts 9:36; 2 Cor. 12:15)”

 And yet, we need not be an overseas missionary to seize the opportunity, as Christ followers, to daily:

• “follow after a spirit of benevolence and mercy towards others”
• “strive to be useful in our days and generation”
• “lessen the spiritual wants and misery around us, as far as we can”
• “not merely purpose and talk about, but do”
• “to gladly spend and be spent for others”