|
dividually,
as Christian stewards, do we merit the honor conferred?
Another
honor conferred was when Christ commissioned his followers to go forth
and disciple all nations, thus making them co-laborers with Himself in
the great work of bringing the world to the foot of the cross. This
great great commission! Truthfully did John Wesley say, "The
world is my parish." He comprehended the meaning of the Lord's
words when he said, "Let him that heareth say come." Our
world lies in sin, souls are perishing, the voice of God is calling,
and today He is saying to His followers, "Let him that heareth
say come." There is no respite from personal duty to those out of
Christ to the Lord's faithful ones, until it can be said that
"Jesus
reigns where'er the sun,
Does his successive journey run,
His kingdom spreads from shore to shore,
And moons shall wax and wane no more."
The
commission is an important one. Important as to the space it
comprehends—to
all nations; important as to time—now,
and its influence reaching through all eternity; and as to method it
is grand; the agents are not to win by might or power, but by His
Spirit which has in it the elements of love, persuasion,
long-suffering, forbearance, etc. Are not they who are chosen to bear
such an important commission highly honored?
"Go
ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."
The
question, old and threadbare, "Will the heathen be saved without
the gospel," is not the one that should so much interest us as
the one, "Will we be saved if we do not carry or send to
them the gospel?" The obligation is upon all Christians and an
honor it is to be an ambassador for Christ. But some make excuses.
When Moses was called of God to go to Egypt he made excuses, but the
obligation was nevertheless upon him and it was his to go and God's to
take care of results. So it is if we as Christians merit the honor of
being co-workers with Christ in gathering to Himself so great a
company as is recorded in Scripture, "from every kindred and
tongue and people and nation," it is quite necessary that we be
prompt in doing faithfully and conscientiously the Lord's bidding
wherever we are called to serve. Then will we have honored our
calling, and the Lord will take care of results. "
GO AND I
WILL BE WITH THEE."
MRS.
L. M. TWEEDY, DUBLIN, IND.
(Continued
from last month.)
Houses
of all kinds of sin, dens of vice, HOMES
of extreme poverty and ignorance-all these in America, and yet no
interest in missions? Coming nearer home, are there no poor within the
circle of our own acquaintances that need our sympathy and help? No
widows to comfort, no orphans to care for, no kind words to be spoken,
no little children staying away from Sabbath-school because they have
nothing to wear out, no little bodies that might be made warm, and
hearts that might be made light, just simply by each one doing her
part of the work in keeping the command—"And
thy neighbor as thyself?
All
this and more, yet still some with no interest in missions?
Another
excuse, "No time, nothing to give. A whole life time, and no time
for Christ in it? No room for Christ in the inn, and no room for Him
in our hearts. Notwithstanding the "Inasmuch as ye did it unto
one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me," and
the promise, "Give" and it shall be given unto you."
Think of the widow's mite. The widows mite is not enough, except we be
poor as that widow. |
Many more excuses are met with, but not one of them will help to
lighten the sentence of the Master, "Depart from me, thou wicked
and slothful servant."
God knows just the talents he has given us, and surely the reckoning
time, will come soon to us, for life is short.
If we come up with the excuse of the servant who was given the one
talent—"Lord, I know that thou was an austere man, etc.,"
let us not expect anything better than that his fate be ours; for God
is no respecter of persons. He is the same yesterday, today and
forever.
Moses did not excuse himself because he did not want to work for God,
as we so often do, but because he felt unable for the task.
To many who feel unable for the task of helping to bring a lost world
back to God, the promise to Moses should be repeated. "Go, and I
will be with thee." Moses made a mistake in even thinking that
God would impose upon him a duty, and fail to provide for all his
needs.
Shall we make the same mistake? All along the pathway of our
existence, be it ever so rough or toilsome, if in the paths of duty
God will provide the Aarons just at the times we need them.
Our work may seem heavy to us, for sin, like the great king Pharaoh,
reigns upon the throne of Egyptian darkness, and sways the scepter of
unrighteousness over millions of lost souls, saying to his subjects,
"I will not let thee go," but God, the father of the
Universe—your father and mine, thank God! is continually bidding his
soldiers onward, with the assurance that he will be with them. And the
same God that piled up the waters of the Jordan for the children of
Israel to pass through, is today removing the difficulties which
confront us as we come to them along the line of duty ; and he will
enable the faithful soldiers to pass through the Jordan of death in
safety.
As we look with the natural eye upon the duties of life, they
overwhelm us; but with the spiritual eye of faith and trust we may
penetrate the mists, and behold a God of Love saying, "Go, and I
will be with thee." L. M. T.
A BLACK PYRAMID.*
A diagram showing the annual cost of intoxicating liquors and tobacco
as compared with other articles. Compare the small top stone with the
immense rock at the bottom.
Bishop
Tucker writes thus of a service in Uganda: "My heart was very
full as I spoke to these dear men of their work, and as I pleaded with
the congregation either as Christians to be faithful to their God and
Saviour, or as unbelievers to 'come to Christ.' Very nearly 500
communicants gathered around the table of the Lord, a congregation in
themselves. What wonders of grace! A congregation of some 3,000 or
4,000 souls, 466 communicants, 3 native priests, and 5 native deacons
ordained, and later in the day 22 lay readers set apart for their
special work, was it any wonder that one almost broke down from time
to time, or that one's heart was filled to overflowing with
thankfulness and praise to God?"—Missionary
Review
|
