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The Ministry of Healing
Shepherd of the sheep.” He assured them that “through the blood of
the everlasting covenant” He will “make you perfect in every good
work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in
His sight, through Jesus Christ.”
Hebrews 13:20, 21
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When one at fault becomes conscious of his error, be careful not
to destroy his self-respect. Do not discourage him by indifference or
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distrust. Do not say, “Before giving him my confidence, I will wait
to see whether he will hold out.” Often this very distrust causes the
tempted one to stumble.
We should strive to understand the weakness of others. We know
little of the heart trials of those who have been bound in chains of
darkness and who lack resolution and moral power. Most pitiable
is the condition of him who is suffering under remorse; he is as
one stunned, staggering, sinking into the dust. He can see nothing
clearly. The mind is beclouded, he knows not what steps to take.
Many a poor soul is misunderstood, unappreciated, full of distress
and agony—a lost, straying sheep. He cannot find God, yet he has
an intense longing for pardon and peace.
Oh, let no word be spoken to cause deeper pain! To the soul
weary of a life of sin, but knowing not where to find relief, present
the compassionate Saviour. Take him by the hand, lift him up, speak
to him words of courage and hope. Help him to grasp the hand of
the Saviour.
We become too easily discouraged over the souls who do not
at once respond to our efforts. Never should we cease to labor for
a soul while there is one gleam of hope. Precious souls cost our
self-sacrificing Redeemer too dear a price to be lightly given up to
the tempter’s power.
We need to put ourselves in the place of the tempted ones. Con-
sider the power of heredity, the influence of evil associations and
surroundings, the power of wrong habits. Can we wonder that under
such influences many become degraded? Can we wonder that they
should be slow to respond to efforts for their uplifting?
Often, when won to the gospel, those who appeared coarse and
unpromising will be among its most loyal adherents and advocates.
They are not altogether corrupt. Beneath the forbidding exterior
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there are good impulses that might be reached. Without a helping
hand many would never recover themselves, but by patient, per-