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Missionary to the Poor, February 6
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to
preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the
brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering
of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.
Luke 4:18
.
The sufferings of humanity ever touched the heart and called forth the
sympathy and love of Christ. He exercised pity and compassion toward
those who were afflicted in soul or body. His example in the matter of
treating the suffering and afflicted should teach us how to have compassion
and pity for the sufferings of His creatures.
Christ suffered in the flesh.... He knew what it was to suffer keen pangs
of hunger, and He has given special lessons in regard to feeding the hungry
and caring for the needy poor, and has declared that in ministering to the
needy we are ministering to Himself in the person of His saints. He says,
“I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat” (
Matthew 25:35
). He knew the
discomfort and suffering of thirst, and He declared that a cup of cold water
given in His name to any of His disciples should not lose its reward
Christ was an active, constant worker. He found the domain of religion
fenced in by high, steep walls of seclusion as too sacred a matter for every-
day life. He threw down the walls of partition, and exercised His helping
power in behalf of every one who needed Him. He brought cheerfulness
and hope to the desponding.... He did not ask, What is your creed? To what
church do you belong? Active, earnest, loving interest marked His life....
The Lord Jesus knows what poverty means. He is the great missionary
to the poor, the sick, the suffering. The King of heaven, He could have led
a life of wealth and have lived among the wealthiest; but He chose poverty.
And He has honored the poor who believe in Him, for He blessed them
forever. Poverty with Christ is riches of the highest value. This poverty is
sanctified and blessed....
In the humanity of Christ there are golden threads that bind the believ-
ing, trusting poor man to His own soul of infinite love
[44]
9
Manuscript 35, 1895
.
10
Manuscript 22, 1898
.
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