A Ministry of Helpful Service

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Christ is our example. Of His work we read: «Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. . . . They brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them.»

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Christ healed the people, and then to those whom He healed and to those who had witnessed His healing, He preached the gospel of the kingdom. This is the work outlined before those who have in trust the greatest wealth of truth ever committed to mortals. The question for us to answer is, «Are we willing to leave self out of the consideration? Are our energies spent in the Master’s service? Are our voices often raised in earnest supplication for power from on high? Is our faith pure and strong? Have we put away all prejudice all evil thinking and evil speaking? Are our affections set on things above, or are they twined about the things on this earth? Are our eyes open to see the needs of those around us? Can God call us faithful watchmen?

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Christ’s life was one of constant self-sacrifice. His work was not confined to any time or place. It was bounded only by His love and sympathy for the souls for whom He was soon to give His life. His compassion knew no limit. On so large a scale did he conduct His work of healing and teaching that there was no building in Palestine large enough to hold the multitudes that thronged to Him. In every town and village through which He passed was to be found His hospital. On the hillsides of Galilee, in the great thoroughfares of travel, on the seashore, in the synagogues, in every place where there were hearts ready to hear His message, Jesus healed the people, and pointed them to their Heavenly Father. In the evening, after the hours of toil were over. He talked with those who through the day must work to earn a pittance for the support of their families.

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If we only realized how earnestly Jesus worked to sow the gospel seed, we would not confine our efforts to attending Sabbath services. We would labor untiringly to give the bread of life to perishing souls. God calls upon His people to break the bands of their precise, indoor service. He would have hundreds in our cities doing the work He did while on this earth. He calls upon His church to do this work, and He declares that He will give them power as they go forth in obedience to His command.

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Brethren and sisters, arouse, and show a living interest in the unworked portions of the Lord’s vineyard. Consecrate yourselves unreservedly to the work of giving the rich treasures of truth to those in darkness. Care for the sick, and prepare their minds to hear the words, «Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.»

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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 every one. 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.

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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 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. By helping others they increase their own happiness and usefulness.

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The Lord has appointed the youth to be his helping hand. If in every church they would consecrate themselves to Him, if they would practice self-denial in the home, relieving the care-worn mother, the mother could find time for neighborly visits, and, when opportunity offered, they could themselves give assistance by doing little errands of mercy and love.

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Healthful living must be made a family matter. Parents should awake to their God-given responsibilities. Let them study the principles of health reform, and teach their children that the path of self-denial is the only path of safety. The mass of the inhabitants of the world by their disregard of physical law are destroying their power of self-control, and unfitting themselves to appreciate eternal realities. Willingly ignorant of their own structure, they lead their children in the path of self-indulgence, thus preparing the way for them to suffer the penalty of the transgression of nature’s laws. This is not taking a wise interest in the welfare of their families.

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I can not too strongly urge all our church members, all who are true missionaries, all who believe the third angel’s message, all who turn away their feet from the Sabbath, to consider the message of the fifty-eight chapter of Isaiah. The work of beneficence enjoined in this chapter is the work that God requires His people to do at this time. It is a work of His own appointment. We are not left in doubt as to where the message applies, and the time of its marked fulfillment, for we read: «They that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.» Verse 12.

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God’s memorial, the seventh-day Sabbath, the sign of His work in creating the world, has been displaced by the man of sin. God’s people have a special work to do in repairing the breach that has been made in His law; and the nearer we approach the end, the more urgent this work becomes. All who love God will show that they bear His sign by keeping His commandments. They are the restorers of paths to dwell in. The Lord says: «If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, . . . then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth.» Verses 13, 14.

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Thus genuine medical missionary work is bound up inseparably with the keeping of God’s commandments, of which the Sabbath is especially mentioned, since it is the great memorial of God’s creative work. Its observance is bound up with the work of restoring the moral image of God in man. This is the ministry which God’s people are to carry forward at this time. This ministry, rightly performed, will bring rich blessings to the church.

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The great crisis is just before us. To meet its trials and temptations, and to perform its duties, will require persevering faith. But we may triumph gloriously; not one watching, praying, believing soul will be ensnared by the enemy.

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In the time of trial before us, God’s pledge of security will be placed upon those who have kept the word of His patience. Christ will say to His faithful ones, «Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.» Isa. 26:20. The Lion of Judah, so terrible to the rejecters of His grace, will be the Lamb of God to the obedient and faithful. The pillar of cloud which speaks wrath and terror to the transgressor of God’s law, is light and mercy and deliverance to those who have kept His commandments. The arm strong to smite the rebellious, will be strong to deliver the loyal. Every faithful one will surely be gathered. «He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.» Matt. 24:31.

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Brethren, to whom the truths of God’s word have been opened, what part will you act in the closing scenes of this world’s history? Are you awake to these solemn realities? Do you realize the grand work of preparation that is going on in heaven and on earth? Let all who have received the light, who have had the opportunity of reading and hearing the prophecy, take heed to those things that are written therein; «for the time is at hand.» Let none now tamper with sin, the source of every misery in our world. No longer remain in lethargy and stupid indifference. Let not the destiny of your soul hang upon an uncertainty. Know that you are fully on the Lord’s side. Let the inquiry go forth from sincere hearts and trembling lips, ‘Who shall be able to stand?’ Have you, in these last precious hours of probation, been putting the very best material into your character-building? Have you been purifying your souls from every stain? Have you followed the light? Have your works corresponded to your profession of faith? Is the softening, subduing influence of the grace of God working upon you? Have you hearts that can feel, eyes that can see, ears that can hear? Is it in vain that the declaration of eternal truth has been made concerning the nations of the earth? They are under condemnation, preparing for the judgments of God; and in this day, which is big with eternal results, the people chosen to be the depositaries of momentous truth ought to be abiding in Christ. Mrs. E. G. White.