The Medical Missionary Work and the Gospel Ministry

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Reading for Sunday, P.M., June 3.

— In preparing a people for the Lord’s second coming a great work is to be done through the promulgation of health principles. We are to relieve suffering by the use of the natural agencies that God has provided. We should teach the people how to prevent sickness by obedience to the laws of life, and while we work for the healing of the body we should seize every opportunity to work for the healing of the soul.

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This was Christ’s method. He worked to restore both the physical and moral image of God in man. Both physical and moral health is to be communicated from the mighty Healer.

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The medical missionary work God has set in operation as a practical illustration of the Gospel. He has signified that this work shall be closely united with the ministry of the Word.

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Every physician, nurse, and medical missionary may through faith in Christ, have in his possession a cure of the highest value,-a remedy for the sin-sick soul. Countless are the opportunities of the physician and his helpers for warning the impenitent, cheering the disconsolate and hopeless, and prescribing for the health of mind and body. Thus they are acting their part in the great work of making ready a people prepared for the Lord. Many who, through their care and teaching, regain health, will be led to accept the special truths for this time. And in their turn they will aid in spreading the light.

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Every duty that calls for reform involves repentance, faith, and obedience. It means the uplifting of the soul to a newer and nobler life. Thus every true reform has its place in the work of the third angel’s message. It demands our attention and support. Especially should prominence be given to temperance reform. We should call attention to this work, and make it a living issue. We should present to the people the principles of true temperance, and call for signers to the temperance pledge.

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In other churches there are Christians who are standing in defence of the principles of temperance. We should seek to come near to these workers, and make a way for them to stand shoulder to shoulder with us. We should call upon great good men to aid us in our Christian Endeavour work. They should be invited to second our efforts in seeking to save that which is lost.

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But in coming in contact with those not of our faith, none should feel that they must conceal the peculiar characteristics which sanctification through the truth gives them. Those who unite with the work of God are to co-operate with God as His appointed instrumentalities; they are to give all their power and efficiency to magnifying the work of His commandment-keeping people. Those who, in their human wisdom, try to conceal the peculiar characteristics that distinguish God’s people from the world, will lose their spiritual life, and will no longer be upheld by His power.

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Never let the idea be entertained that it is essential to make an appearance of being wealthy. Let none suppose that expensive buildings, dress, or furniture, is needed to give character to the work. We are to give character to the work not by display, but by being ourselves living stones in God’s building. All the beauty of art cannot bear comparison with the beauty of temper and character that is to be revealed in those who have to do with sacred things. It is the atmosphere of grace which surrounds the soul of the believer, the Holy Spirit working upon mind and heart, that makes him a savour of life unto life, and enables God to bless his work.

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The Lord requires that those who are engaged in His service shall keep their minds ever directed to Him. We are to put to the stretch every faculty in order to bring saving truth to the attention of perishing human beings. This work must be carried on in connection with the ministry to the sick. Then the work will stand before the world in the strength which God designed it to have.

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Many who appear wholly indifferent to religious things are in heart longing for rest and peace. Although they may have sunken to the very depths of sin there is a possibility of saving them. Many can be reached only through acts of disinterested kindness. Their physical wants must first be cared for. They must be fed, cleansed, and decently clothed. As they see the evidence of our unselfish love, it will be easier for them to believe in the love of Christ.

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This is a work which concerns all our churches. It is not to be done by expensive institutions. We are not called to centre all our interest and all our means in working in the slums of great cities. The last message of warning must be given to the whole world, and ministry to the poor and neglected is but one part of the great work. This we are to do individually, working for individuals as God gives us opportunity. He who created all cares for all. Those who have fallen the lowest are not beyond the reach of His love and pity.

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God delights to take apparently hopeless material, those through whom Satan has worked, and make them subjects of His grace. He rejoices to deliver them from the wrath which is to fall upon the disobedient.

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John Bunyan was redeemed from profanity and reveling; John Newton from slave-dealing, to proclaim an uplifted Saviour. A Bunyan and a Newton may be redeemed from among men to-day. There are those who have had very meagre opportunities, who have walked in ways of error because they knew no better way, to whom beams of light will come. Many will come from the grossest error and sin, and will take the place of those who have had privileges and opportunities but have not prized them. They will be accounted the chosen of God, elect, precious; and when Christ shall come into His Kingdom they will stand next His throne. E. G. White. —