Visitation of Special Member Groups
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Poor
Every minister should be a friend of the poor—Every gospel
minister should be a friend to the poor, the afflicted, and the oppressed
among God’s believing people. Christ was always the poor man’s
friend, and the interests of the poor need to be sacredly guarded. There
has too often been a wonderful dearth of Christ’s compassion and
loving interest in the poor and afflicted. Love, sacred, refined love, is
to be exercised in behalf of the poor and unfortunate.—.
Discouraged
Nothing gives greater spiritual strength than ministering to
the sick and desponding—Nothing will give greater spiritual strength
and a greater increase of earnestness and depth of feeling than visiting
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and ministering to the sick and the desponding, helping them to see
the light and to fasten their faith upon Jesus. There are disagreeable
duties that somebody must do or souls will be left to perish. Christians
will find a blessing in doing these duties, however unpleasant they may
be. Christ took the disagreeable task upon Himself of coming from the
abode of purity and unsurpassed glory, to dwell, a man among men,
in a world seared and blackened by crime, violence, and iniquity. He
did this to save souls; and shall the objects of such amazing love and
unparalleled condescension excuse their lives of selfish ease? shall
they choose their own pleasure, follow their own inclinations, and leave
souls to perish in darkness because they will meet with disappointment
and rebuffs if they labor to save them? Christ paid an infinite price
for man’s redemption, and shall he say: My Lord, I will not labor in
Thy vineyard; I pray Thee have me excused”?—
Testimonies for the
Church 4:75
.
Minister especially to those made despondent by guilt—
Ministry does not consist alone in preaching. Those minister who
relieve the sick and suffering, helping the needy, speaking words of
comfort to the desponding and those of little faith. Nigh and afar off,
souls are weighed down by a sense of guilt. It is not hardship, toil, or
poverty that lowers and degrades humanity. It is guilt, wrong-doing.
This brings unrest and dissatisfaction. Jesus would have His children
minister to sin-sick souls. Those that are strong ought to bear the