A missionary was sitting in a Chinese... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

Is my word not like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
Jeremiah 23:29

A missionary was sitting in a Chinese port, watching a ship being unloaded. The captain recognised him by his clothing and shouted across contemptuously: "I have a bad lad here on board. If you can convert him, then I should have great respect for your religion. He's a hard-baked sinner."

"I can't convert anyone, but God can through His grace. Where is the man, captain?" The missionary was shown into a cabin on a lower deck, where a rough looking man sat repairing his clothes.

"Good morning, Jacob," said the missionary, "I have a message for you." - "For me?" he inquired with a curse. "Whoever in the world wants to send me a message?" - "God Himself!" the missionary replied. Swearing even more viciously, the sailor retorted, "I don't believe in any god."

The missionary took no notice, but continued in a calm voice, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way" (Isaiah 53:6), looking at the sailor with a friendly smile. A moment later tears welled up in the man's eyes. "That is true! And God knows it," he said.

God had clearly touched Jacob's heart. So the missionary could quote the second half of the verse from Isaiah's prophecy: "And the LORD has laid on him, (that is the Lamb of God, our Redeemer), the iniquity of us all." Then he explained the glorious message of Christ, who died for his sins to save him. Jacob confessed the guilt of his life to God and by faith accepted Christ as his Saviour. Whether the captain followed his example, or whether he thought he did not need Christ, we do not know.

Today's reading: Jeremiah 30:1-24 · Romans 4:16-25