Daily Devotion

“Daniel Nelson (1853–1926) was born to a poor Norwegian family and, during his years at sea, twice visited China before emigrating to farm in Iowa. With no mission society behind him, he sold his farm and arrived in Shanghai with his family in 1890; after the Boxer Rebellion (1900) the Nelsons settled in Xinyang, southern Henan, where they spent 25 years planting churches and opening schools and hospitals. In February 1926, as missionaries gathered in Xinyang behind closed doors for protection from marauding troops, Nelson preached his final sermon before being struck in the head by a bullet; he died 40 days later.”

Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity (BDCC) · BDCC, "Nelson, Daniel" by James A. Scherer (reprinted from Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions, 1998), bdcconline.net

Scripture

Ephesians 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

Reflection

Daniel Nelson rooted himself in Xinyang, Henan, for twenty-five years, binding his life to the local people until he was fatally wounded by a bullet there. This beautifully reflects the revelation of Ephesians 2:19: in Christ, we are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household. Faith is not a lofty, cross-cultural observation from above, but a deep integration through a renewed mind. When we lay down our superiority and barriers, and willingly humble ourselves in the places we serve, we can break down the walls of race and identity through the practice of love, truly becoming family members in God's household who love one another and share a common destiny.