Missionaries

oct14
The Lord wants us to 'teach all nations'.  In this nation what we have to do first is to learn to respect all nations.  Unfortunately we too often despise in the name of patriotism.

The Lord would have us to stop thinking poorly of immigrants, muslims, african Americans.  We have no call as missionaries until we stop hating people.

In the Bible it's pretty clearly a radical either-or: we love or we hate; those are our only options.

Beloved (Friends) love one another.

Continuing the Quaker Bible

Forest had a noble 'clerkship' here for several years; you may have noticed that I am the only other (listed) contributor.  You may also perceive that we began the blog in Nov of 2004.  As one of the earliest participants had devoted a lot of time on it.

But one's values change; the originator dropped out after several years; several years after that I more or less dropped out, too.  We were fortunate that Forest was here to carry the responsibility.  I occasionally tried to encourage him, but my priorities were (and are) otherwise.

Now it has been empty for about six months.  I feel the need to keep it alive.  I've decided to lean on Oswald Chambers to maintain continuity.  You may find him a good substitute.  Here is his entry for today:

"Moses went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens." Exodus 2:11. We might review the chapter and talk about it.  Failing that I suggest that Friends (and friends) may profit from seeing what Oswald had to say about it.  Feel free to comment.

John 6.30-40

"Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from Heaven to eat.' "

Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from Heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from Heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from Heaven and gives life to the world."

They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry; and whoever believes in my will never be thirsty. But I have said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from Heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me. And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I should not lose even one of all that He has given me, but raise it up on the Last Day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the Last Day."

John 6.28-30

"This food the son of Adam will give you, for he it is upon whom the Father has set the seal of his authority."

"Then what must we do," they asked him, "if we are to be doing the works of God?"

Jesus replied, "This is the work that God requires: believe in the one whom He has sent."

So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform?"

John 6.22-27

(Next morning the crowd was standing on the opposite shore. They had seen only one boat there, and Jesus, they knew, had not embarked with his disciples, who had gone away without him. Boats from Tiberias, however, came ashore near the place where the people had eaten the bread over which the Lord gave thanks. When the people saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were any longer there, they themselves went aboard these boats and made for Capernaum in search of Jesus. They found him on the other side.)

"Rabbi," they said, "when did you come here?"

Jesus replied, "In very truth I know that you have come looking for me because your hunger was satisfied with the loaves you ate, not because you saw signs. You must work, not for this perishable food, but for the food that lasts, the food of eternal life."