Daily Devotion

“Carl Frederick Kupfer (1852–1925) was born in Germany and emigrated to the United States with his parents as a child. In 1881 the Methodist Episcopal Church sent him to Jiujiang (Kiukiang), Jiangxi, as principal of its school there, and he later also preached in Zhenjiang and Nanjing. When the school was renamed William Nast College in 1901, he again became its president. He died in a Hankou hospital in 1925 and was buried in Jiujiang.”

Wikipedia (Chinese), "Carl Frederick Kupfer" · zh.wikipedia.org, "库思非" (citing Who's Who in American Methodism, 1916, et al.)

Scripture

Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any effect, but faith that arises from love does.

Reflection

Carl F. Kupfer taught and preached in China for over forty years from 1881 and was laid to rest in Jiujiang. His life reminds us that truth is not a lofty doctrine, but rather something that seeps into the parched places of life. As Galatians 5:6 says, the most valuable thing in Christ is not outward religious rituals, but "faith that works in love." Faith that does not translate into service and love for others is like raindrops that do not fall to the ground, unable to take root and sprout. Today, I should examine whether my faith remains merely words and knowledge, or whether it has transformed into sweet rain, nourishing the weak and thirsty souls around me.