November 2

Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9.

Whoever has really experienced the saving and gladdening power of the Gospel cannot keep it to himself. He will become a missionary, proclaiming to his fellow-men: I have found the Savior. When John the Baptist had found the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world, he at once directed Andrew to Him. Andrew, in turn, speedily invited his brother Peter to come to Jesus. And when Philip had seen the glory of the Redeemer, he hesitated not a moment to call Nathanael to Christ. As soon as man has become a believer in Christ, he knows that the Gospel is good tidings, for he has experienced what the Gospel has done for him. The happiness enjoyed by him he wants to bring and impart to those of his fellow-men who are still without the Gospel. Do you not feel that it is your sacred duty to help others as you have been helped? Is not your heart filled with compassion when you see or read of the many redeemed souls walking the broad way that leads to everlasting torments?

You, too, can do mission-work in the proper sense of the term. You can lead sinners to Christ. The weakest among us have a gift, however seemingly small, which is peculiar to him and which he can use. And if he can, he ought to do so. Look about you in your church. You will find people such as Christ found in the church at Sardis who have a name that they live, but are dead. You will find some that have a weak faith, are lacking in knowledge, and are not zealous in good works. You will find some who are not attending the services as they should, who are drifting more and more with the world. Go to them, admonish them, lead them back to Christ. When a stranger comes to church, welcome him in your midst. When a Lutheran family moves into your neighborhood, visit it, invite all its members to your church, and call your pastor's attention to them. Bring the stranger to your church. Help the pastor in his work of seeking straying and lost sheep. It is mission-work. Look upon it as a most important Christian duty.

Prayer.

O Thou Savior of all men, we are Thy spiritual handiwork in Thy Church, and Thou art the Lord of the harvest; therefore we pray Thee to send laborers into Thy vineyard and cause also Thy harvest of men to be abundant at all places. Grant that everywhere good seed be sown on Thy fields and that every Christian take an active part in mission-work. Let us all regard mission-work as the one big, important duty of our lives. Amen.

Wanted! young hands to labor; The fields are broad and wide, And harvest waits the reaper Around on every side. None are too poor or lowly. None are too weak or small, For in His service holy The Master needs them all.