Probably the most famous quote in all the annals of missionary history is the greeting of newsman and adventurer Henry Stanley when he finally reached missionary and explorer David Livingstone in the remote interior of Africa, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” On this encounter of November 10, 1871, there was really no reason for Stanley to make any other assumption than that this lone white man in the sea of black faces in the inner reaches of this thitherto-unexplored region of the world would be none other than Scottish missionary — David Livingstone.
When the term “missionary” is mentioned, some people immediately get a vision of a tall white colonial figure in a pith helmet carrying a big black Bible, marching through the jungle, attacking venomous snakes with one blow of his machete. Others imagine an elderly, humorless spinster with an accordion teaching little black children to sing “Jesus loves me.”
But in this little study, I’d like to consider how we can really pick out who is a missionary. With Livingstone and the hypothetical missionaries in the previous paragraph, the dead-give-away clue was the skin color, but I’d like to suggest that the pigment in the skin isn’t the real determining factor because they don’t change. (Jeremiah 13:23) If a man is white, black, or orange polka-dotted before he is born again, he’ll still be white, black, or orange polka-dotted after conversion — and he’ll still be white, black, or orange polka-dotted if he is called into mission work. But there are some characteristic indicators that do go through radical changes when an individual is commissioned into this great ministry — distinctive gauges that uniquely identify him or her as a real “Dr. Livingstone.” Let’s explore the:
Eyes
The eyes of an individual become radically different when he receives the anointing of a missionary. Suddenly, he is able to recognize the harvest that he was never able to see even though it was always “right before his eyes.”
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. (John 4:35)
Ears
The missionary’s ears are drastically revolutionized when he is given the honor of serving as God’s ambassador to the nations. Now he is able to hear the voice of God within the voices of the ethnic groups of the world as they call out for someone to come bring them the Bread of Life.
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. (Acts 16:9-10)
Feet
Missionaries have beautiful feet to allow them to go to the nations of the world to preach (Mark 16:15) and teach the Word of God (Matthew 28:19).
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! (Isaiah 52:7)
Hands
Missionaries have special hands because they are particularly blessed by God to serve others and do miracles.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17-18)
Knees
The knees of missionaries are especially adapted to prayer in that they have a two-fold prayer mandate: 1) for the nations to come to the Lord and 2) that more come join them in the mission harvest fields.
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. (Psalm 2:8)
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. (Luke 10:2)
Heart
The heart of a missionary has been uniquely touched by God so that he cares enough about a lost and dying world that he is willing to sacrifice his own comforts and aspirations in order to make a difference in the lives of men, women, children, and societies around the world.
Today, take a look at your eyes, ears, feet, hands, knees, and heart and see if perhaps God has been molding you into a missionary. Remember one important lesson: Missionaries are not made by crossing the sea, but by seeing the cross. If your eyes, ears, feet, hands, knees, and heart indicate that you are a missionary, you are a missionary — even if you never leave your hometown. If you have seen the cross, you are a missionary — even if your field is your own family, friends, and people who speak your own language and have the same color of skin that you do.
When Jesus cast the demon out of Legion, he wanted to travel with Jesus and be a missionary with Him. Jesus’ response was that this young man’s mission field was his own familiar territory. (Mark 5:19, Luke 8:39) But certainly his eyes, ears, feet, hands, knees, and heart had all the telltale signs of a missionary.