The Pioneer Work
[
The Review and Herald, December 17, 1914
.]
Medical missionary work is the pioneer work of the gospel, the
door through which the truth for this time is to find entrance to many
homes. God’s people are to be genuine medical missionaries, for they
are to learn to minister to the needs of both soul and body. The purest
unselfishness is to be shown by our workers as, with the knowledge and
experience gained by practical work, they go out to give treatments to
the sick. As they go from house to house they will find access to many
hearts. Many will be reached who otherwise never would have heard
the gospel message. A demonstration of the principles of health reform
will do much toward removing prejudice against our evangelical work.
The Great Physician, the originator of medical missionary work, will
bless all who thus seek to impart the truth for this time.
Physical healing is bound up with the gospel commission. When
Christ sent His disciples out on their first missionary journey, He bade
them, “As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely
ye have received, freely give.”
Matthew 10:7, 8
. And when at the
close of His earthly ministry He gave them their commission, He said,
“These signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they
cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up
serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they
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shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
Mark 16:17, 18
.
The Beloved Physician
Of the disciples after Christ’s ascension we read, “They went
forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and
confirming the word with signs following.”
Mark 16:20
. Luke is
called the “beloved physician.” He labored in connection with Paul
in Philippi, and when Paul left that place Luke stayed, doing double
service as a physician and a gospel minister. He was indeed a medical
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