Robert Murray M'Cheyne by Andrew Bonar (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Chapter 4 (His mission to Palestine and the Jews) by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'We left Alexandria on 16th May 1839, parting from many kind friends in that city. We and our baggage were mounted on seventeen donkeys, like the sons of Jacob, when they carried corn out of Egypt.'
While taking a break, someone suggests whether he might consider being useful to the Jewish cause and going abroad to make personal inquiries into the state of Israel.
Thus we see M'Cheyne disengage himself from his flock and begin travelling to Israel with three other Scottish ministers.
I must admit that I was a bit puzzled as to why someone would embark on a long journey (and without air travel) when they're supposed to be taking care of their health and not working. Was it just me?
Anyway, I did like reading of M'Cheyne's missionary zeal: 'Though engaged night and day with his flock in St. Peter's, Mr. M'Cheyne ever cherished a missionary spirit. "This place hardens me for a foreign land," was his remark on one occasion. This spirit he sought to kindle yet more by reading missionary intelligence for his own use, and often to his people at his weekly prayer-meeting. The necessities both of his own parish, and of the world at large, lay heavy on his soul; and when an opportunity of evangelizing occurred, there was none in Scotland more ready to embrace it. He seemed one who stood with his loins girt: "Here am I; send me."'
As ministers, it's all too easy to be so concerned for our own little patch, that we forget our responsibility to the world.
Conclude Chapter 4 (His mission to Palestine and the Jews).
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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