Home Missions in ActionAllen, Edith H. (Edith Hedden)
History
Home Missions in Action
Allen, Edith H. (Edith Hedden)
Home missions
"Christ gives the best.
And in His service as we're growing stronger
The calls to grand achievement still increase.
The richest gifts for us, on earth or in heaven above,
Are hid in Christ. In Jesus, we receive the best we have."
The Christ-love was expressed in service. From the time that He went
forth to be "about His Father's business" we see him always serving
to the utmost of His strength with no thought of rest, or comfort.
We recall the long, hard day in Capernaum when after having spent
Himself in teaching He came to Peter's house; the news of His
presence there spread through the city; quickly were brought unto
Him the sick, the crippled and possessed; forgetful of His weariness
He healed and ministered unto them until the shadows lengthened and
night closed in. All along the way, as He journeyed in Galilee, Judea
or Samaria, he gave help and healing to the sick and sinful. When
He heard the sad cry of the lepers, He drew near them and gave them
cleansing. Those possessed of evil spirits, the blind, the soul sick,
the unrealizing, hardened woman at the well, the beautiful, loving
Magdelen, all found in Him a response to their utmost need. He said
truly, "The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto but to minister."
He says to us, "As the Father sent me, so send I you."
"The final purpose of knowledge is action."
Grant us the will to fashion as we feel;
Grant us the strength to labor as we know;
Grant us the purpose ribbed and edged with steel
To strike the blow.
Knowledge we ask not--knowledge Thou hast lent,
But, Lord, the will--there lies our bitter need.
Give us to build above the deep intent
The deed, the deed.
--_John Drinkwater_.
Knowledge must find expression in action or it is harmful and
vicious in its reaction. Having learned of Home Mission conditions
and needs, "word and deed must become one witness in action," else
our knowledge will mean a hardening of sympathy, the atrophy of
some spiritual impulse. The Lord calls us and sends us forth to
serve.
Let us also remember that now is the time to begin a larger
service. "To-day is your day and mine, the only day we have, the
day in which we play our part. What our part may signify in the
great whole we may not understand, but we are here to play it and
now is the time."
"Whittier tells us the story of the day in Connecticut in 1780,
when the horror of great darkness came over the land, and all men
believed that the dreaded Day of Judgment had come at last.
"The legislature of Connecticut, 'dim as ghosts' in the old
Statehouse, wished to adjourn to put themselves in condition for
the great assizes, Meanwhile Abraham Davenport, representative
from Stamford, rose to say:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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