October 13 You write of encountering hatred of foreigners. This gives me the occasion to advise you that when you come to a strange village, never preach until you have established a warm, social contact with its people. For you must not be a stranger. First become known and win trust on the national and economic level. "To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews" (1 Cor. 9:20). Only then should you preach, but still with caution. It is not our preaching but our life that must give people light. How shall they understand something of the kingdom of God if we speak to them of it before they have seen anything? Until now the only kind of kingdom that has emerged has been one of violence and oppression. If you do not act in a different way and meet them on their own level as a friend, they will understand nothing. Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt, from Christ in the World, Letters to China No. 33, June 1902. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A PRAYER FOR TODAY Blumhardt's prayer for today and every day of the year. http://blumhardts.com/bl/DailyPrayer.htm?source=Breakfast Like what you read today? Share it with a friend. Send them this URL: http://blumhardts.com/bl/Subscribe.htm?source=Breakfast © 2004 Bruderhof Communities.
