Go Ye

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them,
Go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to every creature.

Hear your commission, O Church of the Master!
Friends and disciples of Jesus, take heed.
How are you doing the work of the Father?
How are you caring for hunger and need?

Useless to stay in your doorway, and beckon --
Those who most need will never come in;
Fighting the devil with art and with culture,
How he must laugh at his stronghold of sin!

Go--to the sheep that are scattered and fainting,
Having no shepherd, and tell them to come;
Go--to the highways, and tell every creature
Still the feast waiteth, and yet there is room.

Go--the time shortens, the night is approaching--
Harvests are whit'ning and reapers are few;
Somewhere, perhaps, in the darkness are dying
Souls that might enter the Kingdom with you.

Go--for the foe goeth, tireless, cunning,
Body and soul he is holding in fee.
Go--lift his gauge in the might of the Stronger,
And in that Power declare the slaves free!

Go--our Lord goeth to man's petty judgment,
Bearing His cross in the midst of His foes;
Let us go forth to Him, mocked and derided,
Bear His reproaches, and share in His woes.

Go--church of Christ, for He goeth before you,
And all the way that ye take He doeth know.
On the bright morrow He'll say, "Come ye blessed,"
But till the dawning the Message is, "GO!"

Annie Johnson Flint

Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

graphics by Mary Stephens
background - unknown
CA