LOVE IN MISSIONARY WORK.
By Carrie Knight
“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:8. No trait that adorns the Christian character is more to be admired, or to be prized by its possessor, than the power to love. Love is the living fountain from which issues the stream that flows out to all mankind, distributing cheer and comfort to hearts bowed beneath loads of sorrow. Love is the foundation principle of missionary work. By general use, the term “missionary” is restricted in its meaning to many; the word carries5the thoughts to other lands, to missions in the dark corners of the world. But the idea of missionary work is broader than this. “One who does good to others,” is entitled to the name missionary. The workers may not be gifted with eloquence; but they may have what is better, a warm, sympathetic heart that can be touched with others’ needs and sorrows. Christ says, “Ye are the light of the world.” The sun, as it goes forth on its errand of love, floods the earth with its warm rays and dispels the darkness. So we, gathering divine rays from the Sun of Righteousness, should go on our mission of love, and let the light shine forth in good works to others. Christ is our example. We find Him ever searching out the unloved and the wretched, longing to be the close companion of the friendless. There is nothing but love in the heart of the Christian. “Love is of God;” “for God is love.” There are many little deeds of thoughtful kindness by which we can prove our love to God and our neighbor. May we all so imitate our Lord that all our words may breathe out melody and love, and inspire hope and comfort in the hearts of all. CARRIE KNIGHT.