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Christ’s Object Lessons
Christ, the outshining of the Father’s glory, came to the world as its
light. He came to represent God to men, and of Him it is written that
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He was anointed “with the Holy Ghost and with power,” and “went
about doing good.”
Acts 10:38
. In the synagogue at Nazareth He
said, “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, to preach
the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Luke 4:18, 19
. This was the work He
commissioned His disciples to do. “Ye are the light of the world,” He
said. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14, 16
.
This is the work which the prophet Isaiah describes when he says,
“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor
that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou
cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then
shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring
forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of
the Lord shall be thy rereward.”
Isaiah 58:7, 8
.
Thus in the night of spiritual darkness God’s glory is to shine forth
through His church in lifting up the bowed down and comforting those
that mourn.
All around us are heard the wails of a world’s sorrow. On every
hand are the needy and distressed. It is ours to aid in relieving and
softening life’s hardships and misery.
Practical work will have far more effect than mere sermonizing.
We are to give food to the hungry, clothing to the naked, and shelter
to the homeless. And we are called to do more than this. The wants
of the soul, only the love of Christ can satisfy. If Christ is abiding in
us, our hearts will be full of divine sympathy. The sealed fountains of
earnest, Christlike love will be unsealed.
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God calls not only for our gifts for the needy, but for our cheerful
countenance, our hopeful words, our kindly handclasp. When Christ
healed the sick, He laid His hands upon them. So should we come in
close touch with those whom we seek to benefit.
There are many from whom hope has departed. Bring back the
sunshine to them. Many have lost their courage. Speak to them words
of cheer. Pray for them. There are those who need the bread of life.