religion and undefiled before the Father is this: “To visit the
fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted
from the world.” Good deeds are the fruit that Christ requires us to
bear: kind words, deeds of benevolence, of tender regard for the poor,
the needy, the afflicted. When hearts sympathize with hearts burdened
with discouragement and grief, when the hand dispenses to the needy,
when the naked are clothed, the stranger made welcome to a seat in your
parlor and a place in your heart, angels are coming very near, and an
answering strain is responded to in heaven. Every act of justice, mercy,
and benevolence makes melody in heaven. The Father from His throne
beholds those who do these acts of mercy, and numbers them with His
most precious treasures. “And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts,
in that day when I make up My jewels.” Every merciful act to the needy,
the suffering, is regarded as though done to Jesus. When you succor
the poor, sympathize with the afflicted and oppressed, and befriend the
orphan, you bring yourselves into a closer relationship to Jesus.
“Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me,
ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for
I was an hungered, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave
Me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in: naked, and ye
clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not. Then shall
they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungered, or
athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister
unto Thee? Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me.
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous
into life eternal.” Matthew 25:41-46.
Jesus here identifies Himself with His suffering people.
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It was I who was hungry and thirsty. It was I who was a stranger. It was I
who was naked. It was I who was sick. It was I who was in prison. When
you were enjoying the food from your bountifully spread tables, I was
famishing in the hovel or street not far from you. When you closed your
doors against Me, while your well-furnished rooms were unoccupied,
I had not where to lay My head. Your wardrobes were filled with an
abundant supply of changeable suits of apparel, upon which means had
been needlessly squandered, which you might have given to the needy.
I was destitute of comfortable apparel. When you were enjoying health,
I was sick. Misfortune cast Me into prison and bound Me with fetters,
bowing down My spirit, depriving Me of freedom and hope, while you
roamed free. What a oneness Jesus here expresses as existing between
Himself and His suffering disciples! He makes their case His own. He
identifies Himself as being in person the very sufferer. Mark, selfish
Christian: every neglect of the needy poor, the orphan, the fatherless, is
a neglect of Jesus in their person.
I am acquainted with persons who make a high profession, whose
hearts are so encased in self-love and selfishness that they cannot
appreciate what I am writing. They have all their lives thought and lived
only for self. To make a sacrifice to do others good, to disadvantage
themselves to advantage others, is out of the question with them. They
have not the least idea that God requires this of them. Self is their
idol. Precious weeks, months, and years pass into eternity, but they have
no record in heaven of kindly acts, of sacrificing for others’ good, of
feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, or taking in the stranger. This
entertaining strangers at a venture is not agreeable. If they knew that
all who sought to share their bounty were worthy, then they might be
induced to do something in this direction. But there is virtue in venturing
something. Perchance we may entertain angels.
26
There are orphans that should be cared for; but some will not venture
to undertake this, for it would bring them more work than they care to
do, leaving them but little time to please themselves. But when the King
shall make investigation, these do-nothing, illiberal, selfish souls will
learn that heaven is for those who have been workers, those who have
denied themselves for Christ’s sake. No provisions have been made for
those who have ever taken such special care in loving and looking out
for themselves. The terrible punishment which the King threatens those
on His left hand, in this case, is not because of their great crimes. They
are not condemned for the things which they did do, but for that which
they did not do. You did not those things which Heaven assigned you to
do. You pleased yourself, and can take your portion with self-pleasers.
To my sisters I would say: Be daughters of benevolence. The Son
of man came to seek and to save that which was lost. You may have
thought that if you could find a child without fault, you would take it,
and care for it; but to perplex your mind with an erring child, to unlearn
it many things and teach it anew, to teach it self-control, is a work which
you refuse to undertake. To teach the ignorant, to pity and to reform
those who have ever been learning evil, is no slight task; but Heaven has
placed just such ones in your way. They are blessings in disguise.
Years ago I was shown that God’s people would be tested upon this
point of making homes for the homeless; that there would be many
without homes in consequence of their believing the truth. Opposition
and persecution would deprive believers of their homes, and it was the
duty of those who had homes to open a wide door to those who had
not. I have been shown more recently that God would specially test His
professed people in reference to this matter. Christ for our sakes became
poor that we through His poverty might
27
be made rich. He made a sacrifice that He might provide a home for
pilgrims and strangers in the world seeking for a better country, even an
heavenly. Shall those who are subjects of His grace, who are expecting
to be heirs of immortality, refuse, or even feel reluctant, to share their
homes with the homeless and needy? Shall we, who are disciples of
Jesus, refuse strangers an entrance to our doors because they can claim
no acquaintance with the inmates?
Has the injunction of the apostle no force in this age: “Be not
forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels
unawares”? I am daily pained with exhibitions of selfishness among our
people. There is an alarming absence of love and care for those who
are entitled to it. Our heavenly Father lays blessings disguised in our
pathway, but some will not touch these for fear they will detract from
their enjoyment. Angels are waiting to see if we embrace opportunities
within our reach of doing good—waiting to see if we will bless others,
that they in their turn may bless us. The Lord Himself has made us
to differ,—some poor, some rich, some afflicted,—that all may have an
opportunity to develop character. The poor are purposely permitted to
be thus of God, that we may be tested and proved, and develop what is
in our hearts.
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
I have heard many excuse themselves from inviting to their homes
and hearts the saints of God. “Why, I have nothing prepared, I have
nothing cooked; they must go to some other place.” And at that place
there may be some other excuse invented for not receiving those who
need hospitality, and the feelings of the visitors are deeply grieved, and
they leave with unpleasant impressions in regard to the hospitality of
these professed brethren and sisters. If you have no bread, sister, imitate
the case brought to view in the Bible. Go to your neighbor and say:
“Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is