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Welfare Ministry
Angels Guard the Blind—Angels are sent to minister to the chil-
dren of God who are physically blind. Angels guard their steps and
save them from a thousand dangers, which, unknown to them, beset
their path. But His Spirit will not attend them unless they cherish a
spirit of kindness and seek earnestly to have control over their natures
and to bring their passions and every power into submission to God.
They must cultivate a spirit of love, and control their words and actions.
I was shown that God requires His people to be far more pitiful
and considerate of the unfortunate than they are. “Pure religion and
undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless
and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the
world.” Here genuine religion is defined. God requires that the same
consideration which should be given to the widow and fatherless be
given to the blind and to those suffering under the affliction of other
physical infirmities. Disinterested benevolence is very rare in this age
of the world.—
Testimonies for the Church 3:516
.
Guardians of the Unfortunate—If there are those in the church
who would cause the blind to stumble, they should be brought to
justice; for God has made us guardians of the blind, the afflicted, the
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widows, and the fatherless. The stumbling block referred to in the
Word of God does not mean a block of wood placed before the feet of
the blind to cause him to stumble, but it means much more than this. It
means any course that may be pursued to injure the influence of their
blind brother, to work against his interest, or to hinder his prosperity.
A brother who is blind and poor and diseased, and who is making
every exertion to help himself that he may not be dependent, should
be encouraged by his brethren in every way possible. But those who
profess to be his brethren, who have the use of all their faculties, who
are not dependent, but who so far forget their duty to be blind as to
perplex and distress and hedge up his way, are doing a work which
will require repentance and restoration before God will accept their
prayers. And the church of God, who have permitted their unfortunate
brother to be wronged, will be guilty of sin until they do all in their
power to have the wrong righted.—
Testimonies for the Church 3:519,
520
.
The Viewpoint of Mercy—I wish that we might all see as God
sees. I wish all could realize how God looks upon those men who
profess to be followers of Christ, who have the blessing of sight and