Christian missionaries show exemplary strength and determination while on the field. Whether they are doctors, teachers, or just plain regular folks back home, people who witness them in action cannot help but be amazed by their fearlessness.
But where do their bravery come from? Heidi Baker, a missionary who authored the book, "Birthing the Miraculous," wrote in a post shared by Charisma News that missionaries draw their strength from the knowledge that they are loved by God.
"I have been beaten up, shot at and lied about. People have even tried to strangle me. I am not afraid. To this day I can walk boldly into gangs of armed thugs and tell them to stop in the name of Jesus. I expect them to drop their knives. Generally they turn surprisingly nice. Sometimes they look at me and apologize," Baker shared. "Where did this confidence come from? It came from knowing the Father loves me. Because I truly know that I am loved, I am not afraid."
Baker said that God wants Christians to acknowledge deep in their hearts that they are beloved by God. When they do, they no longer have to worry about how other people perceive them. Believers no longer have to worry about the love they'll give to those in need because the love of God will flow straight from Him.
However, Baker clarified that this does not mean children of God will no longer make mistakes. The missionary explained that only God is perfect, but the good news is that His love knows no bounds.
"You are a son or a daughter right now - today. Your real identity is in this truth. It doesn't matter what people do or do not call you. It doesn't matter where you do or do not sit. You are a son. You are a daughter. There is no more precious position to which you might ever aspire," she said.
Earlier, evangelist Billy Graham lauded the efforts of missionaries young and old. He said God's soldiers can do the simplest of things, such as help repair the roof of a church or dig a ditch to pipe in clean water. Whatever they do, they are already "a living example of God's love — and the love of other believers."
