Our Example in Welfare Ministry
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in our behalf. We are to follow the path of self-sacrifice trodden by
Christ.—
Special Testimonies, Series B 8:31, 32
.
Christ Moved With Compassion—When Christ saw the mul-
titudes that gathered about Him, “He was moved with compassion
on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep
having no shepherd.” Christ saw the sickness, the sorrow, the want
and degradation of the multitudes that thronged His steps. To Him
were presented the needs and woes of humanity throughout the world.
Among the high and the low, the most honored and the most degraded,
He beheld souls who were longing for the very blessings He had come
to bring....
Today the same needs exist. The world is in need of workers who
will labor as Christ did for the suffering and the sinful. There is indeed
a multitude to be reached. The world is full of sickness, suffering,
distress, and sin. It is full of those who need to be ministered unto—the
weak, the helpless, the ignorant, the degraded.—
Testimonies for the
Church 6:254
.
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The Model We Should Copy—The true missionary spirit is the
spirit of Christ. The world’s Redeemer was the great model missionary.
Many of His followers have labored earnestly and unselfishly in the
cause of human salvation; but no man’s labor can bear comparison
with the self-denial, the sacrifice, the benevolence, of our Exemplar.
The love which Christ has evinced for us is without a parallel.
How earnestly He labored! How often was He alone in fervent prayer,
on the mountainside or in the retirement of the garden, pouring out
His supplications with strong crying and tears. How perseveringly He
urged His petitions in behalf of sinners! Even on the cross He forgot
His own sufferings in His deep love for those whom He came to save.
How cold our love, how feeble our interest, when compared with the
love and interest manifested by our Saviour! Jesus gave Himself to
redeem our race, and yet how ready are we to excuse ourselves from
giving all that we have for Jesus. Our Saviour submitted to wearing
labor, ignominy, and suffering. He was repulsed, mocked, derided,
while engaged in the great work which He came to earth to do.
Do you, my brethren and sisters, inquire: What model shall we
copy? I do not point you to great and good men, but to the world’s
Redeemer. If we would have the true missionary spirit, we must be
imbued with the love of Christ; we must look to the Author and Finisher