3 Days to Christmas

December 22nd, 2025
by John Thweatt

J. Oswald Sanders tells the story of a missionary who walked barefoot from village to village preaching the Gospel. One day after a long day of many miles and much discomfort he came to a village and preached. The people rejected his message so he went to the edge of the village and lay under a tree and slept. When he awoke the whole village was gathered around him. The head of the village told him that they came to look at him while he was sleeping and noticed his feet. They were willing to hear his message because he had suffered so much to bring it to them. That is the great need of our day—a willingness to suffer for the sake of Christ knowing that He will be glorified.

We need more men and women like Raymond Lull. He was born in 1235 in Spain to a wealthy family. At the age of 79 he began to enjoy the fruit of his labor and was encouraged to end his days in the peaceful comforts of friendship. He had other plans. His ambition was to die as a missionary rather than as a teacher of philosophy. At the age of 79 he left for North Africa to serve as a missionary among the Muslims. For the first year he served underground secretly teaching and encouraging the church and its leaders, but he felt he needed to do more. He presented himself in the open market and preached of the coming wrath of God if they stayed in their sin. He pleaded with them to come to Christ. They seized him and stoned him to death. Some would say—what a tragedy. I say what a way to go!

Spending your last breath, like Stephen, calling people to Christ. We need more men and women like that:

Willing to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Willing to approach a sinful people even if it means their blood might be spilled.

Willing to suffer for the ‘therefore.’

Willing to suffer and die so that they can “fill up in their flesh what is still lacking.”

Willing to die so that they can know Jesus died for them.

Willing to reject the notion that the years of retirement are meant to play and accept the notion that the last years can be your best years in terms of service in the Kingdom.

Willing to take all that you worked for and instead of leaving it to children who won’t need it—spend it to further the Kingdom. (Why else would God have given it to you?)

Willing not only to spend your money, but to spend your very lives giving sacrificially to reach the billions who haven’t heard. I wonder if anyone like that is reading this today?

Willing to suffer physically for the joy set before you.