Evening star., 1923-10-06


we take up one Of the most vital SUBJ
jects ever considered by the millions
who study the Sunday school lessons
In our Bible schools. The quarters
course covers the missionary mes
sage Of the Bible. 1t is unique In it's
character. The study Of the lessons
will give to US the correct conception
of our international relations as
Christians. Missions contain the very
taproot of religion. commerce and CIV
ilization. The hope Of q new era,
when all men throughout the world
will enjoy the fellowship Of the
spiritual life that will unite men into
a great brotherhood Of love and serv-
Ice, depends upon the followers of
Christ Understanding His missionary
program and, endowed with the power
He has supplied In the gift OF the
for the Lord and His church.
Miss ons orig in the heart OF
Jehovah Out Of His love for a de-
moralized world was born His pur-
pose and program OF redemption.
Gods attitude in all His dealings
His desire to save men. Throughout
all the ages He has sent His mis-
sionaries who have plead with
Ignorant and erring men, as the
Lords ambassadors. beseeching them
ito be reconciled unto God" In His
plan of the ages" missions Is ap-
parently the method that Jehovah Sc
lected so that men should come to
know Of His love and bring humanity
back to Him and it's destiny. The
port and give life to the whole mis-
sionary movement that seeks the
evangelizatfon of the world In this
generaion were contained In Gods
call OF the pioneer missionary.
Pioneer Missionary.
One of the most important events
recorded In the Old Testament was
the command Of "the God of glory"
who appeared TO Abraham and order
ed him to become a missionary. say
ing: Get thee out of thy country.
and from thy kindred, and from thy
fathers house, unto the land that
will show thee" In calling the first
spiritual experience which character
ICES the lives Of all who are called to
carry the gospel to the lost. Amidst
the degradation and degeneracy OF
the life Of idolatry in Ur of Chaldees
vealed Himself to Abraham. whose
spiritual vision had detected the evil
tendency of the worship OF many
gods and it's inability to develop man
into something higher. SO that
through the influence OF Abraham
end He called him to separate himself
from his family and friends He was
called to leave everything that ne
held dear and to go under sealed
orders" to a land that Jehovah would
While we are not Informed as to
how this summons was spoken to
Abraham, the great, heroic figure
(whose memory Is revereo oy the
devotees of Judaism. Mohammedanism
and Christianity 1000 years later)
leave the certainties Of civilized life
for the uncertainties of an unknown
land. He recognized the hardships
involved. but he was inspired to obey
the Divine commands by the hope OF
future. He was not moved by the
Inspiration for fame or fortune, but
he was prompted by the desire to be
a blessing to mankind through MAX
ing known to them the truths about
Jehovah. When Abraham realized
to other countries through him he
must Mave realised that all mankind
possessed the same nature, 30 that
they were endowed with the faculties
of heart and mind to appreciate and
accept the fellowship S1 sd Se SehSHa forth on
his mission by the threefold promise
that God should make Of him great
nation, that his name should be great
and that in him AL the families OF
the earth should be blessed" Abra-
ham believed that the Lord was call.
ing him. He was moved to obey not
by his desire for posterity: which.
humanity speaking. appeared to be
,mpossible. Moved by faith In the
consciousness of the Divine presence,
he went forth In obedience to the d.
vine command. .
When we read the words that tell
us of his departure and journey into
the promised land there Is nothing
portance. Nothing which has ever
been done. except the coming into
the world of Jesus, can be compared
to Abraham's obedience to Gods call
for the extent and magnitude OF IT'S
results. Out Of II grew the jewish
nation and all the witness sso which
they bore for Jehovah for 1000 years
Out of II came the comparatively