Determined
Luke 18:1
David
Livingstone was one of the greatest missionary doctors //who ever lived.
But when he was struggling on his expeditions,
he didn’t look so great.
His exploration of the River Zambezi was a failure—the river could not
be navigated.
He kept trying to find a way /until the British government
ordered him home. After that, no one wanted to give him more money
/to
return for more explorations.
After a while, he somehow found the
money to return to Africa. Once he got there, no one heard from him for
six years.
Many thought () he was dead, but he was not. Although he was
seriously ill, he was determined /to stay in Africa /until his mission was
complete. He stubbornly continued to explore. Finally, he died and his
friends carried his body a thousand miles /to the coast /so that he could
be returned to England and honored with a proper burial.
At the
time he died, many people thought () Livingstone’s whole life was a
failure. But now, many years later, we know () he traveled 29,000 miles in
Africa, and that he made important geographical discoveries /for Great
Britain, such as Victoria Falls
and four important lakes. He explored
Central Africa so missionaries could go there. He was honored by African
chiefs.
He spoke out against slavery. And [others //who knew him] were
inspired to build schools to educate African children.
Much good has
come of his life.
[One of the things () Livingstone said] was, “I
determined never to stop /until I had come to the end and achieved my
purpose.” That means () he decided () he would never give up, and it explains a
lot /about who he was.
It also helps us understand that we must not give
up praying /for whatever it is [we want and need from God].
* it = [(that) we want and need from God]
Dear
Lord, First help me know [what I should pray for],
and then make me
determined never to stop praying and talking with you. Amen.
* The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa, the longest
east-flowing river in Africa and the largest flowing into the Indian
Ocean from Africa.