STUDY II.

THE LORD'S COMMAND.

Memory Verse: "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature."--(Mark xvi, 15.)

Scripture for Meditation: Ezek. xxxiii, 1-11.


By the Master's final words to his disciples the obligation is laid upon
every Christian to be a soul-winner. "Ye shall be my witnesses," is the
risen Lord's message to all his followers. No one is excused. "Follow
me," said Christ, "and I will make you fishers of men." And when his
face was set toward Calvary, he said to the Father, "As thou hast sent
me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." By the
mouth of the prophet Ezekiel, God distinctly says that, if we neglect
"to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his
iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand." We are all
_sent_, and if we shrink or excuse ourselves from our great mission we
shall come into condemnation.

The unsaved multitudes know that every Christian should be an ambassador
for Christ, and when we fail to do our duty we are condemned in their
eyes as well as before God. A writer in the _Epworth Era_ says: