We have already seen that every Christian must be a missionary. We might add much more evidence on this point, but it is hardly necessary. And now the question to be considered is, How can we act as missionaries? We cannot all go to foreign lands, nor would it be best if we could. God has work to be done at home as well as abroad, and the qualifications which would give a person success as a foreign missionary, will enable him to do good service at home. There is not so much difference in the two kinds of missionary labor, after all. The one who goes from home has, perhaps, a wider field, but his work consists simply in doing the work which he finds to do, heartily, as unto the Lord. We shall first consider a branch of missionary work which is of prime importance. It lies at the foundation of all missionary effort, and is one that everybody can do. In fact, it is absolutely necessary that everybody should be a missionary of this kind, or else any other efforts put forth will be unavailing. We find the directions given in the Bible as follows:— “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” This seems a very simple thing to do, so simple that many who have no other way of doing missionary work think that they are useless branches. But like everything which is of great importance, it is not the easiest thing in the world to do. To fulfill the requirements of this text it is not necessary that we be preachers, or that we go from house to house as colporters, but that we simply live consistent Christian lives. If we do this, it will have a greater effect than we can imagine. Our Lord plainly says that others seeing our good works will be led to glorify God. Notice that it is our good works, not our good words. Christians should understand that they are watched by the world, and that the world is a good judge of what constitutes true Christianity. And it is not enough that our lives are correct according to the commonly-accepted standard of right and wrong. A man may not do an act that is in any way contrary to human laws or customs, and yet be no better than his neighbors who make no profession. Now it is evident that unless a Christian is better than his unchristian neighbor there is no inducement for that neighbor to become a Christian. Religion is to make men better, and if it does not accomplish this, it is of no use whatever. Nor is it necessary for the Christian to call attention to himself in order that men may see his light. If there were any necessity for this, it would argue the absence of light. A candle makes no noise, and yet its influence is felt by all. A lantern that is to give light to the traveler in the night, rings no bell to announce its presence. It shines because it has light, and it can do nothing else but shine. If a street lamp required a gong attached to it, so that people might know its location, we would say that it needed oil. So if the professing Christian is not known to be such without an examination of the church record, he needs the gift of God’s Spirit. If we are Christians indeed, our influence will surely be felt. Because the text says “that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven,” it does not follow that all who see the Christian’s light will follow his example. All who hear the voice of the missionary in foreign lands do not accept the gospel. Worldlings may glorify God by acknowledging the power of a godly life, thus condemning themselves. Letting one’s light shine includes also speaking for the truth whenever it is necessary. “A word spoken in due season, how good is it!” But great care is necessary in speaking on Bible subjects. There is “a time to keep silent, and a time to speak;” but it is a very difficult matter to properly distinguish between these times. In all cases the words spoken should be prompted by the Spirit of God. This will be the case if we abide in Christ and his words abide in us. Peter gives the rule: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear, having a good conscience; that whereas they speak evil of you as of evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” 1 Peter 3:15, 16. Here we learn that we are to have a good conscience; we are to have our conversation, that is, our whole daily life—not simply our words—in Christ. This is letting our light shine so that men may see our good works. Then we are to understand the word of God, so that when men ask why we live so much different from the world, we may be able to give a reason for the hope that is in us. It is very easy for men to argue against religion, and to turn aside every truth that be presented to them; they may be able to explain everything to their own satisfaction; but there is no argument which they can offer against a godly life. It is unanswerable. It testifies to the truth of the Bible, and condemns the wicked course of the unbeliever. There is no better way that Christians can let their light shine than by their perfect unity; and there is no quicker way to quench the light and destroy their influence with the world, than to indulge in strife. There should not be the slightest difference between Christians. In Christ’s prayer for his disciples he said: “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me.” Here certainly is an incentive for all who profess to love Christ to sink all differences of whatever nature. Only by so doing can they convince the world of the truth of the gospel, and gather them to Christ. It takes self-denial to yield our own wills to others, but self-denial is one of the prime requisites of a missionary. We have not yet been called to give up all our earthly possessions or lay down our lives for the sake of Christ; but we are all called upon to give up our own wills. Self-denial takes a wide range, and there is a chance for us to exercise in this respect, as there was for the reformers. We admire the bold stand taken by Luther, and doubtless many of us have thought that we would have done the same; but the conquering of ourselves often calls for more strength than Luther required in order to stand before the Diet at Worms. “He that ruleth his spirit is greater than he that taketh a city.” This is the first thing that is required of every worker for God. Many are never called upon to do anything more; but if they make a success of it, their influence will not be lost. And if those who have a wider sphere do not do this, their work will be in vain. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” It is only by the aid of the Spirit of God that anything can be done in his service. And we read: “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isa. 57:15. Every act and every word, in order to be blessed of God to the conversion of souls, must be prompted by his Spirit. Let us then seek humility, that he may give us his Spirit. In the next article, we shall speak further of how to do missionary work.