Chapter 17—Christian Help Work
Tracing the Divine Footprints
Many feel that it would be a great privilege to visit the scenes of
Christ’s life on earth, to walk where He trod, to look upon the lake
beside which He loved to teach, and the hills and valleys on which His
eyes so often rested. But we need not go to Nazareth, to Capernaum,
or to Bethany, in order to walk in the steps of Jesus. We shall find
His footprints beside the sick-bed, in the hovels of poverty, in the
crowded alleys of the great city, and in every place where there are
human hearts in need of consolation. In doing as Jesus did when on
earth, we shall walk in His steps.—
The Desire of Ages, 640
.
Jesus worked to relieve every case of suffering that He saw. He
had little money to give, but He often denied Himself of food in order
to relieve those who appeared more needy than He. His brothers felt
that His influence went far to counteract theirs. He possessed a tact
which none of them had, or desired to have. When they spoke harshly
to poor, degraded beings, Jesus sought out these very ones, and spoke
to them words of encouragement. To those who were in need He
would give a cup of cold water, and would quietly place His own meal
in their hands. As He relieved their sufferings, the truths He taught
were associated with His acts of mercy, and were thus riveted in the
memory.—
The Desire of Ages, 86, 87
.
The Indorsement
The followers of Christ are to labor as He did. We are to feed the
hungry, clothe the naked, and comfort the suffering and afflicted. We
are to minister to the despairing, and inspire hope in the hopeless. And
to us also the promise will be fulfilled, “Thy righteousness shall go
before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.”—
The Desire
of Ages, 350
.
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Those who have been engaged in this Christian help work have
been doing what the Lord desires to have done, and He has accepted
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