Thought
What a busy life Christ led! Day by day He might be seen entering the humble abodes of want and
sorrow, speaking hope to the downcast and peace to the distressed. The poor and suffering received the
greatest share of His attention. Children loved Him. They were drawn to Him by His ready sympathy.
By His simple, loving words He settled many a difficulty arising among them. Often He took them on
His knee and talked with them in a way that won their hearts.
His was the medical missionary work that He asks His people to do today. Humble, gracious,
tenderhearted, pitiful, He went about doing good, feeding the hungry, lifting up the bowed down,
comforting the sorrowing. None who came to Him for aid went away unrelieved. Not a thread of
selfishness was woven into the pattern He has left for His children to follow. He lived the life that He
would have all live who believe on Him. It was His meat and drink to do the will of His father. To all
who came to Him for help He brought faith and hope and life. Wherever He went He carried blessing.
To us Christ’s message is, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow Me.”—Manuscript 115, 1902.
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Chapter Fourteen—In the Footsteps of the Master
Christ’s Pattern of Medical Ministry.—For three years the disciples had before them the
wonderful example of Christ. Day by day they walked and talked with Him, hearing His words of
cheer to the weary and heavy laden and seeing the manifestations of His power in behalf of the sick and
afflicted. When the time came for Him to leave them, He gave them power to work as He had worked.
He bestowed on them His grace, saying, “Freely ye have received, freely give.” They were to go forth
into the world to shed abroad the light of His gospel of love and healing. The work He had done they
were to do.
And this is the work we also are to do in the world. In sympathy and compassion we are to minister
to those in need of help, seeking with unselfish earnestness to lighten the woe of suffering humanity.
As we engage in this work we shall be greatly blessed. Its influence is irresistible. By it souls are won
to the Redeemer. The practical carrying out of the Saviour’s commission demonstrates the power of the
gospel. This work calls for laborious effort, but it pays; for by it perishing souls are saved. Through its
influence men and women of talent are to be brought to the cross of Christ.
Man has a body as well as a soul to save. Both are to be restored to health by God’s simple but
efficacious methods, which appeal to men and women of intelligence.
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Through a belief in the truth souls are awakened to a need of a preparation for life’s duties. As the
health of the body is restored the powers of the mind are put forth to grasp the great truths of the
gospel.—Letter 152, 1901.
First Meet the Temporal Necessities.—The suffering and destitute of all classes are our neighbors,
and when their wants are brought to our knowledge it is our duty to relieve them as far as possible. A
principle is brought out in this parable [of the good Samaritan] that it would be well for the followers
of Christ to adopt. First meet the temporal necessities of the needy and relieve their physical wants and
sufferings, and you will then find an open avenue to the heart, where you may plant the good seeds of
virtue and religion.—Testimonies for the Church 4:226, 227.
A World to Save.—Remember that there is a world to save. We are to act our part, standing close
by the side of Christ as his colaborers. He is the head; we are His helping hand. He designs that we,
by doing medical missionary work, shall undo the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free. Let
us not close our eyes to the misery around us or our ears to the cries of distress which are continually
ascending. Christ is the greatest missionary the world has ever known. He came to uplift and cheer the
sorrowing and distressed, and in this work we are to cooperate with him.—Manuscript 31, 1901.
Find Christ’s Footprints in the Hovels of Poverty.—Many feel that it would be a great privilege
to visit the scenes of Christ’s life on earth, to walk where He trod, to look upon the lake beside which
He loved to teach, and the hills and valleys on which His eyes so often rested. But we need not go to
Nazareth, to
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Capernaum, or to Bethany in order to walk in the steps of Jesus. We shall find His footprints beside
the sickbed, in the hovels of poverty, in the crowded alleys of the great city, and in every place where
there are human hearts in need of consolation. In doing as Jesus did when on earth, we shall walk in
His steps.—The Desire of Ages, 640.
The Gospel of Relief From Suffering.—Medical missionary work brings to humanity the gospel
of release from suffering. It is the pioneer work of the gospel. It is the gospel practiced, the compassion
of Christ revealed. Of this work there is great need, and the world is open for it. God grant that the
importance of medical missionary work shall be understood and that new fields may be immediately
entered.—Manuscript 55, 1901.
Begin in Your Own Neighborhood.—Before the true reformer, the medical missionary work will
open many doors. No one need wait until called to some distant field before beginning to help others.
Wherever you are, you can begin at once. Opportunities are within the reach of everyone. Take up
the work for which you are held responsible, the work that should be done in your home and in your
neighborhood. Wait not for others to urge you to action. In the fear of God go forward without delay,
bearing in mind your individual responsibility to Him who gave His life for you. Act as if you heard
Christ calling upon you personally to do your utmost in His service. Look not to see who else is ready.
If you are truly consecrated, God will, through your instrumentality, bring into the truth others whom
He can use as channels to convey light to many that are groping in darkness.
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All can do something. In an effort to excuse themselves, some say: “My home duties, my children,
claim my time and my means.” Parents, your children should be your helping hand, increasing your
power and ability to work for the Master. Children are the younger members of the Lord’s family. They
should be led to consecrate themselves to God, whose they are by creation and by redemption. They
should be taught that all their powers of body, mind, and soul are His. They should be trained to help
in various lines of unselfish service.—Testimonies for the Church 7:62, 63.
Everyone to Do His Best.—The Lord desires every worker to do his best. Those who have not had
special training in one of our medical institutions may think that they can do very little; but, my dear
fellow workers, remember that in the parable of the talents Christ did not represent all the servants as
receiving the same number. To one servant was given five talents; to another, two; and to still another,
one. If you have but one talent, use it wisely, increasing it by putting it out to the exchangers. Some
cannot do as much as others, but everyone is to do all he can to roll back the wave of disease and distress
that is sweeping over our world. Come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the
mighty powers of darkness. God desires every one of His children to have intelligence and knowledge,
so that with unmistakable clearness and power His glory shall be revealed in our world.—The Review
and Herald, June 9, 1904.
Laborers Together With God.—A grand side of the work of God is revealed by the words
“medical missionary.” To be a medical missionary means to be a laborer together with God. Medical
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
missionary work,
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a work that is to be a great help and strength to the cause, is to be carried forward in all carefulness
and wisdom. Into this work not one thread is to be drawn that will spoil the beautiful pattern that God
designs shall be worked out.—Manuscript 139, 1902.
Proclaiming the Truth to the Sic