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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
regard for the poor, the needy, the afflicted. When hearts sympathize
with hearts burdened with discouragement and grief, when the hand
dispenses to the needy, when the naked are clothed, the stranger
made welcome to a seat in your parlor and a place in your heart,
angels are coming very near, and an answering strain is responded
to in heaven. Every act of justice, mercy, and benevolence makes
melody in heaven. The Father from His throne beholds those who
do these acts of mercy, and numbers them with His most precious
treasures. “And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that
day when I make up My jewels.” Every merciful act to the needy,
the suffering, is regarded as though done to Jesus. When you succor
the poor, sympathize with the afflicted and oppressed, and befriend
the orphan, you bring yourselves into a closer relationship to Jesus.
“Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from
Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his
angels: for I was an hungered, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty,
and ye gave Me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in:
naked, and ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me
not. Then shall they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we
Thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in
prison, and did not minister unto Thee? Then shall He answer them,
saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of
the least of these, ye did it not to Me. And these shall go away into
everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
Matthew
25:41-46
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Jesus here identifies Himself with His suffering people. It was I
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who was hungry and thirsty. It was I who was a stranger. It was I who
was naked. It was I who was sick. It was I who was in prison. When
you were enjoying the food from your bountifully spread tables, I
was famishing in the hovel or street not far from you. When you
closed your doors against Me, while your well-furnished rooms were
unoccupied, I had not where to lay My head. Your wardrobes were
filled with an abundant supply of changeable suits of apparel, upon
which means had been needlessly squandered, which you might
have given to the needy. I was destitute of comfortable apparel.
When you were enjoying health, I was sick. Misfortune cast Me into
prison and bound Me with fetters, bowing down My spirit, depriving
Me of freedom and hope, while you roamed free. What a oneness