Daily Devotion

“John Glasgow Kerr arrived in China in 1854 and, as successor to Peter Parker, was in charge of the Ophthalmic Hospital in Canton for 44 years; he is estimated to have treated 780,000 patients and performed 48,000 operations, translated 34 volumes of medical works into Chinese, taught 150 Chinese medical students, and in 1898 founded China's first Refuge for the Insane. Robert E. Speer wrote of him: "Vast as was his distinctly medical work, Dr. Kerr was above all things a missionary. He never lost an opportunity to preach Christ. ... He was a missionary first, and all his medical knowledge was used to commend the Gospel."”

Gerald H. Anderson, Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity · BDCC, "Kerr, John Glasgow" (reprinted from Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions; quoting Robert E. Speer)

Scripture

Matthew 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of heaven and healing every disease and sickness.

Reflection

John Glasgow Kerr's life of healing echoes the Gospel of Matthew, like a mirror. We often separate our lives, viewing profession and faith, body and soul, as two separate things. However, Jesus' ministry is complete: He cared for physical pain, but even more so, He longed to save lost souls. Reflecting on my daily life—whether at work, practicing medicine, or interacting with others—am I merely fulfilling superficial professional duties, neglecting the soul behind them that yearns to be loved and illuminated by truth? True following means surrendering all worldly work to and serving the sacred mission of the Kingdom of Heaven.