Missionary Zeal
S. Martin, D. D. Mark 16:15 And he said to them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. A ragged school teacher went out into the lanes of our city to bring in neglected children. He found a child, the very incarnation of wickedness and wretchedness, and led her to the school. There she heard expounded and applied the parable of the prodigal son. Shortly after the child was seized by fever, and the teacher visited her. In one of his visits he read this parable, and when he came to the words, "When he was yet a great way off his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him," the child exclaimed, "Ah, that was just like me! That's good; say it again — 'a great way off!' What, ever so far, away, away, like me with the devil? That must be far from God and the Lamb. Yes! I was a great way off. How good! how kind! But I'm afraid! have been worse than that bad son. Still, I have said 'Dear Jesus, I want to love you, I want to get away from the devil; please help me.' And I think He heard me, for I have felt somehow different ever since. I am not afraid now; no, not one bit." When death was so near that it was supposed that all power of utterance was gone, she aroused herself, and said, in a clear and distinct voice, evidently referring to destitute children allowed still to wander through the streets and lanes of the city: "Fetch them in; oh, be sure and fetch them in! Fetch them in and tell them of Jesus, tell them of Jesus; oh, be sure and fetch them in." (S. Martin, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. WEB: He said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation.