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Teaching and Healing
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Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the
people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their
good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs,
and won their confidence. Then He bade them, “Follow Me.”
There is need of coming close to the people by personal effort.
If less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent
in personal ministry, greater results would be seen. The poor are
to be relieved, the sick cared for, the sorrowing and the bereaved
comforted, the ignorant instructed, the inexperienced counseled. We
are to weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice.
Accompanied by the power of persuasion, the power of prayer, the
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power of the love of God, this work will not, cannot, be without
fruit.
We should ever remember that the object of the medical mission-
ary work is to point sin-sick men and women to the Man of Calvary,
who taketh away the sin of the world. By beholding Him, they will
be changed into His likeness. We are to encourage the sick and
suffering to look to Jesus and live. Let the workers keep Christ, the
Great Physician, constantly before those to whom disease of body
and soul has brought discouragement. Point them to the One who
can heal both physical and spiritual disease. Tell them of the One
who is touched with the feeling of their infirmities. Encourage them
to place themselves in the care of Him who gave His life to make it
possible for them to have life eternal. Talk of His love; tell of His
power to save.
This is the high duty and precious privilege of the medical mis-
sionary. And personal ministry often prepares the way for this. God
often reaches hearts through our efforts to relieve physical suffering.
Medical missionary work is the pioneer work of the gospel. In
the ministry of the word and in the medical missionary work the
gospel is to be preached and practiced.
In almost every community there are large numbers who do
not listen to the preaching of God’s word or attend any religious
service. If they are reached by the gospel, it must be carried to
their homes. Often the relief of their physical needs is the only
avenue by which they can be approached. Missionary nurses who
care for the sick and relieve the distress of the poor will find many
opportunities to pray with them, to read to them from God’s word,