The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1905-11-03
THE Work of Missions"

The work of missions is to day the
the minds and energies Of HIS people.
We have been in the habit Of dl.
viding it into "Home and Foreign"
AS geographical distinction, this
may have some value. But in prin--
ciple the work of missions Is one
whether in the home or foreign
lands; ana it is all foreign, whether
in Yokohama, Bombay. New York
or Minneapolis The kingdom OF
Jesus Christ is not of this world.
God looks az missions in America
and in China as eqnally foreign, to
which, He gave His Son. We must
remember that God so loved the
WORLD" not simply AMERICA. AT
the time OF the Inauguration OF the
first Christian mission our ancestors
we're degraded barbarlans worship
ping idols. 1.-The gospel OF Christ
was the power Of God unto the Jews
FIRST, and ALSO TO THE GREEK. :"
When Paul was being hurried by the
Spirit toward Troas to take ship for
Phillip, the time had come to give
the Gospel to the Gentlles, that all
nations might hear the Word of God,
Chnst's voice has been echoing
from heart to heart through the CEN
turtles, $50 we into all the world,
preach the Gospel to every creature"
"And we shall be witnesses for Me
In Jerusalem, and in all Judea, IN
Samaria, and unto the uttermost
parts of the earth +" All parts OF
the earth are thus placed before each
one for which he is equally response
BILE. Each one is to heed the voice of
the Spirit and go where He leads.
another. "Till the field at your feet
and send others to till the fields
which YOU cannot reach" ltls true
that the early church was to begin
at Jerusalem" but thev were not to
end there. They we'll knew that
though Jerusalem was TO be the
place of their first responsibility, 1t
was not therefore to be the place of
their chief responsibility, Pauls
first responsibility was to witness tor
Christ at Damascus, but the Spirit
soon showed HIM that his chief re-
sponsibility was to esangelize the
Gentlles. James was given the super
lntendence of the work In Jerusale m,
John in ASIA Minor, Paul IN Europe;
but the chlet responsibility of each
and all was to evangelize the world.
No one can, by his own wisdom,
decide where is the place of his
greatest duty. There are doubtless
today manv in the home fields whose
place OF glorious privilege is to "dis-
ciple the nations" Jonah did not
believe 10 Foreign Missions, but his
place Of chief blessing was in Nlnevah.
Paul sswas not disobediept to the
heavenly vlsion," add us result the
most inspiring missionary life Of all
the centuries was then begun.
Having found our place in Gods
plan, each one Is to stand where God
puts him and do Gods will. "The
light that shines farthest, shines
brightest nearest home;" and it is
equally true that the light that
:, shines brightest near its home will
also shine farthest away. THIS axi-
ON, translated into the language OF
the everyday life Of the Christian
light bearer, means that the Chris
bian who is the most interested in
Chrlst's work at home will also be
most interested In Christ's work
abroad; and one OF the most marked
effects of cnnsecraJed interest IL
Gods work LII 4ureign lands is fount
IN the reflex influence resulting il
stimulated activity and consecratloi
in the church at home. 1t has beef
Ome a most interesting study &
note the progress Of Christianity Il
the heart and life and then the cor
7 responding growth of interest il
missions. When the soul is firs
awakened l.y conviction, the mind !
concentrated on his own cas-,
.sOh God, be merciful to me, the slt
err, Cod answers that PRAYER, an
tho man begins to think Of other'