November 1

Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16, 15. 16.

The chief mission of the Church is to proclaim the true Gospel of Christ, which is the only means by which immortal souls are saved and made members of the everlasting kingdom of God. And this must always continue to be the chief mission of the Church, as long as it deserves to bear that name.

But is it not an impossible task to preach the Gospel to every creature? It must be admitted that it is a difficult, a great, a gigantic task. Shall we, then, retreat and follow those who already have begun the retreat? No; we cannot, we dare not; for the Captain of our salvation says: "Go!" and this one word from His majestic lips ought to settle the matter for us. And is there

not a dire necessity for us to go? A fact that we constantly should remember is that two-thirds of the world's people still languish in the darkness of heathendom. What are you doing that the command of Christ may be fulfilled: "Go ye and make disciples of all nations"? Or do you think that the execution of the Lord's orders is beyond our resources? That is a reasonable question. But is that the way of the Lord, to give an order that cannot be obeyed? Does He command us to do a task and then absent Himself? No; He is with us always when we go to bring the Gospel to the nations. He is in the field before us; He anticipates our coming. "All things are ready." And our spiritual resources are fully efficient, complete, and powerful. Wherever this Gospel has been preached, it has been the means of bringing sinners to Christ and to salvation; wherever this Gospel has been proclaimed, it has overthrown the idols and has reared altars of praise and adoration to the true God. How, then, is it with our material resources? Are we giving all we might and all we can to bring more people under the blessed influence of the Gospel? Can we honestly answer the Lord face to face and say, "I am doing all I can for Thee"?

Prayer.

O Lord Jesus, we are not worthy of the least of Thy mercies and Thy truth, but we pray Thee with a humble heart, remain with us also in future with the divine Word and the holy Sacraments, that the Gospel may be preached to every creature, that Thy holy name may be known among the nations, be alone feared and honored, and we all live according to Thy divine pleasure, and serve Thee, and win souls for Thy blessed kingdom. Amen.

Have ye carried the living water To the parched and thirsty soul? Have ye said to the sick and wounded, "Jesus Christ can make thee whole"? Have ye told My fainting children Of the strength of the Father's hand? Have ye guided the tottering footsteps To the shore of the Golden Land?