Go: A 40-Day Journey To The Never ReachedSample

Reluctant Heroes

By: Cari Hurst

Captain John Ferrier didn’t want to die. The respected combat pilot had a wife and three children. When his F-86 Sabrejet malfunctioned, he could have saved himself by ejecting. But he feared the pilotless jet would kill others. He chose to save the lives of others. Captain Ferrier didn’t want to pilot the doomed plane into the ground, but he did it anyway.

People like Captain Ferrier, who saved others at the cost of his own life, are heroes. That’s real courage—and love. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13 NIV). Like this brave pilot, missionaries might not personally know the people for whom they are called to sacrifice, but they still lay down their lives for a friend—Jesus.

Facing death is difficult. Jesus himself struggled. Yet ultimately he embraced the Father’s plan of redemption “Yet what I want is not important, for I only desire to fulfill your plan for me” (Matthew 26:39 The Passion Translation). As followers of Jesus, we are called to no less.

After his resurrection, Jesus recommissioned Simon Peter for service. But he also gave Peter a glimpse of the way he would ultimately die—following his Lord in crucifixion.  

In that moment, Peter had a choice—would he follow Jesus no matter the cost, even knowing that it would mean a painful death in the end? Peter chose to follow Jesus anyway. This brings me hope because Peter had a track record of hesitation and faltering. 

Missionaries don’t go tell others about Jesus because they want to sacrifice, suffer, and die. But they go anyway. They honor their commitment to following their friend, Jesus, by being willing to lay down their lives for him. They resolve to finish the mission, no matter the cost.

Go Anyway

It’s human nature to want to avoid suffering, pain, and death. That’s why we must daily die to our old human nature and put on the nature of Christ. Read 2 Corinthians 5, and consider how it relates to the believer’s call to follow Christ wherever he may lead, even to places of great suffering and death.

Pray for Never Reached People Group: The Sama-Bajau (Philippines)

Pray for a mighty move of the Spirit among the Sama-Bajau people that will open the hearts of many to Christ in your lifetime.