EGW Notes - Lesson 8 -Mission to the Needy

 Sabbath Afternoon, November 18
The Saviour taught this principle [the golden rule] to
make mankind happy, not unhappy; for in no other way
can happiness come. God desires men and women to . . .
improve their higher powers by doing the work He has
entrusted to mankind—the work of searching out and
relieving the necessities of their fellow men. Man should
not work for his own selfish interest, but for the interest
of everyone about him, blessing others by his influence
and kindly deeds. This purpose of God is exemplified in
Christ’s life.
Seize every opportunity to contribute to the happiness
of those around you, sharing with them your affection.
Words of kindness, looks of sympathy, expression of
appreciation, would to many a struggling, lonely one be
as a cup of cold water to a thirsty soul. A word of cheer,
an act of kindness, would go far to lighten the burdens
that are resting heavily upon weary shoulders. It is in
unselfish ministry that true happiness is found. And
every word and deed of such service is recorded in the
books of heaven as done to Christ. Live in the sunshine
of Christ’s love. Then your influence will bless the
world.—My Life Today, p. 165.
We are to follow the example set by Christ, and make
Him our pattern, until we shall have the same love for
others as He has manifested for us. He seeks to impress
us with this profound lesson of love. If your hearts have
been given to selfishness, let Christ imbue you with His
love. He desires that we shall love Him fully, and
encourages, yes, even commands, that we shall love
others as He has given us an example. He has made love
the badge of our discipleship. This is the measurement
to which you are to reach,—“Love one another; as I have
loved you.” What height, what depth and breadth of
love! This love is not simply to embrace a few favorites,
it is to reach to the lowliest and humblest of God’s
creatures. Jesus says, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto
one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it
unto me.”—Sons and Daughters of God, p. 147.
Do you in your words, in your spirit, in your actions,
resemble Christ? If in word and spirit you represent the
character of Christ, then you are Christians; for to be a
Christian is to be Christlike. The tongue will testify of the
principles that characterize the life; it is the sure test of
what power controls the heart. We may judge our own
spirit and principles by the words that proceed from our
lips. The tongue is always to be under the control of the
Holy Spirit.
When poor, wounded, bruised souls come to you for
words of hope, you are to speak to them the words of
Christ. Do you refuse to give them pleasant, courteous,
kind words? Those who speak as Christ spoke will never
plant bitter words like barbed arrows in the wounded
soul.—Lift Him Up, p. 148.
Sunday, November 19
The Faith of Friends
God estimates man not by the circumstances of his
birth, not by his position or wealth, not by his
advantages in educational lines, but by the price paid for
his redemption. . . . However misshapen has been his
character, although he may have been counted as an
outcast among men, the man who permits the grace of
Christ to enter his soul will be reformed in character and
will be raised up from his condition of guilt, degradation,
and wretchedness. God has made every provision in
order that the lost one may become His child. The
frailest human being may be elevated, ennobled, refined,
and sanctified by the grace of God. . . .
[Those] who are workers together with God, who are
filled with divine compassion, will see and estimate men
in the same way that God sees and estimates them.
Whatever may be the nationality or color, whatever may
be the social condition, the missionary for God will look
upon all men as the purchase of the blood of Christ, and
will understand that there is no caste with God. No one
is to be looked upon with indifference or to be regarded
as unimportant, for every soul has been purchased with
an infinite price.—The Southern Work, p. 31.
Again and again the bearers of the paralytic tried to
push their way through the crowd, but in vain. The sick
man looked about him in unutterable anguish. When the
longed-for help was so near, how could he relinquish
hope? At his suggestion his friends bore him to the top of
the house and, breaking up the roof, let him down at the
feet of Jesus. The discourse was interrupted. The Saviour
looked upon the mournful countenance, and saw the
pleading eyes fixed upon Him. He understood the case;
He had drawn to Himself that perplexed and doubting
spirit. While the paralytic was yet at home, the Saviour
had brought conviction to his conscience. When he
repented of his sins, and believed in the power of Jesus
to make him whole, the life-giving mercies of the Saviour
had first blessed his longing heart. Jesus had watched
the first glimmer of faith grow into a belief that He was
the sinner’s only helper, and had seen it grow stronger
with every effort to come into His presence.
Now, in words that fell like music on the sufferer’s ear,
the Saviour said, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be
forgiven thee.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 268.
A great work is to be done, and those who know the
truth should make mighty intercession for help. . . .
The Lord demands that in His servants shall be found
a spirit that is quick to feel the value of souls, quick to
discern the duties to be done, quick to respond to the
obligations that the Lord lays upon them. There must be
a devotion that will regard no earthly interest of
sufficient value to take the place of the work to be done
in winning souls to a knowledge of the truth.—
Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 123.
Monday, November 20
Christ’s Method Alone
The sick man was lying on his mat and occasionally
lifting his head to gaze at the pool, when a tender,
compassionate face bent over him, and the words, “Wilt
thou be made whole?” arrested his attention. Hope came
to his heart. . . .
Jesus bids him, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” With
a new hope the sick man looks upon Jesus. The
expression of His countenance, the tones of His voice,
are like no other. Love and power seem to breathe from
His very presence. The cripple’s faith takes hold upon
Christ’s word. Without question he sets his will to obey,
and, as he does this, his whole body responds.
Every nerve and muscle thrills with new life, and
healthful action comes to his crippled limbs. Springing to
his feet, he goes on his way with firm, free step, praising
God and rejoicing in his new-found strength. . . .
Never feel that Christ is far away. He is always near.
His loving presence surrounds you. Seek Him as One
who desires to be found of you. He desires you not only
to touch His garments, but to walk with Him in constant
communion.—The Ministry of Healing, pp. 83–85.
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 power of
the love of God, this work will not, cannot, be without
fruit. . . .
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.—The Ministry of Healing, pp.
143, 144.
Christ [teaches] that we should regard ourselves as
inseparably bound to our Father in heaven. Whatever
our position, we are dependent upon God, who holds all
destinies in His hands. He has appointed us our work,
and has endowed us with faculties and means for that
work. So long as we surrender the will to God, and trust
in His strength and wisdom, we shall be guided in safe
paths, to fulfill our appointed part in His great plan—The
Desire of Ages, p. 209.
Tuesday, November 21
Refugees and Immigrants
By our churches there is a work to be done of which
many have little idea, a work as yet almost untouched. “I
was an hungered,” Christ says, “and ye gave Me meat: I
was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and
ye took Me in: naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and
ye visited Me; I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.”
Matthew 25:35, 36. Some think that if they give money
to this work, it is all they are required to do; but this is
an error. . . . [A]ccording to their strength and
opportunities, personal service is required of all.
The work of gathering in the needy, the oppressed, the
suffering, the destitute, is the very work which every
church that believes the truth for this time should long
since have been doing. We are to show the tender
sympathy of the Samaritan in supplying physical
necessities, feeding the hungry, bringing the poor that
are cast out to our homes, gathering from God every day
grace and strength that will enable us to reach to the
very depths of human misery and help those who cannot
possibly help themselves. In doing this work we have a
favorable opportunity to set forth Christ the crucified
One.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, pp. 275, 276.
God has given a special command that we should
regard the stranger, the outcast, and the poor souls who
are weak in moral power. Many who appear wholly
indifferent to religious things are in heart longing for
rest and peace. Although they may have sunken to the
very depths of sin, there is a possibility of saving them.
Christ’s servants are to follow His example. As He went
from place to place, He comforted the suffering and
healed the sick. Then He placed before them the great
truths in regard to His kingdom. This is the work of His
followers. As you relieve the sufferings of the body, you
will find ways for ministering to the wants of the soul.
You can point to the uplifted Saviour, and tell of the love
of the great Physician, who alone has power to
restore.—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 233.
Christ for our sakes became poor that we through His
poverty might be made rich. He made a sacrifice that He
might provide a home for pilgrims and strangers in the
world seeking for a better country, even an heavenly.
Shall those who are subjects of His grace, who are
expecting to be heirs of immortality, refuse, or even feel
reluctant, to share their homes with the homeless and
needy? Shall we, who are disciples of Jesus, refuse
strangers an entrance to our doors? . . .
I am daily pained with exhibitions of selfishness
among our people. There is an alarming absence of love
and care for those who are entitled to it. . . . Angels are
waiting to see if we embrace opportunities within our
reach of doing good—waiting to see if we will bless
others.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, pp. 27, 28.
Wednesday, November 22
To Help the Hurting
God requires His people to be far more pitiful and
considerate of the unfortunate than they are. 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. It is strange that professed
Christian men should disregard the plain, positive
teachings of the Word of God and feel no compunction of
conscience. God places upon them the responsibility of
caring for the unfortunate, the blind, the lame, the
widow, and the fatherless; but many make no effort to
regard it.
There is a great work to be done in our world, and as
we approach the close of earth’s history, it does not
lessen in the least degree; but when the perfect love of
God is in the heart, wonderful things will be done.—My
Life Today, p. 243.
The Lord has a great work for us to do, and He invites
us to look to Him, to trust in Him, to walk with Him, to
talk with Him. He invites us to make an unreserved
surrender of all that we have and are to Him, that when
He shall call upon us to sacrifice for Him, we may be
ready and willing to obey. We shall enjoy the fullness of
divine grace only as we give all to Christ. We shall know
the meaning of true happiness only as we keep the fire
burning on the altar of sacrifice. God will bequeath the
most in the future to those who have done the most in
the present. Each day, under different circumstances, He
tries us; and in each truehearted endeavor He chooses
His workers, not because they are perfect, but because
they are willing to work unselfishly for Him.—Our High
Calling, p. 191.
While the world needs sympathy, while it needs the
prayers and assistance of God’s people, while it needs to
see Christ in the lives of His followers, the people of God
are equally in need of opportunities that draw out their
sympathies, give efficiency to their prayers, and develop
in them a character like that of the divine pattern.
It is to provide these opportunities that God has placed
among us the poor, the unfortunate, the sick, and the
suffering. They are Christ’s legacy to His church, and
they are to be cared for as He would care for them. In
this way God takes away the dross and purifies the gold,
giving us that culture of heart and character which we
need. . . .
In placing among us the poor and the suffering, the
Lord is testing us to reveal to us what is in our hearts. . . .
The world will be convinced not so much by what the
pulpit teaches as by what the church lives. The preacher
announces the theory of the gospel, but the practical
piety of the church demonstrates its power.—In
Heavenly Places, p. 324.
Thursday, November 23
Greater Love
How did Christ manifest His love for poor mortals? By
the sacrifice of His own glory, His own riches, and even
His most precious life. Christ consented to a life of
humiliation and great suffering. He submitted to the
cruel mockings of an infuriated, murderous multitude,
and to the most agonizing death upon the cross. Said
Christ: “This is My commandment, That ye love one
another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man
than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye
are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” We
give evidence of being the friends of Christ when we
manifest implicit obedience to His will. . . . Who are
obeying the commandment to love one another as Christ
has loved them? [We] must have a firmer, deeper, and
more unselfish love than [we] have ever yet possessed, if
[we] obey the commandment of Christ.—Testimonies for
the Church, vol. 1, p. 690.
Our love is frequently selfish, for we confine it to
prescribed limits. When we come into close union and
fellowship with Christ, our love and sympathy and our
works of benevolence will reach down deeper and will
widen and strengthen with exercise. The love and
interest of Christ’s followers must be as broad as the
world. Those who live merely for “me and mine” will fail
of heaven. . . .
There are those all around you who have woes, who
need words of sympathy, love, and tenderness, and our
humble, pitying prayers. Some are suffering under the
iron hand of poverty, some with disease, and others with
heartaches, despondency, and gloom. Like Job, you
should be eyes to the blind and feet to the lame, and you
should inquire into the cause which you know not and
search it out with the object in view to relieve their
necessities and help just where they most need help.—
Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, pp. 529, 530.
The more closely we resemble our Saviour in
character, the greater will be our love toward those for
whom He died. Christians who manifest a spirit of
unselfish love for one another are bearing a testimony
for Christ which unbelievers can neither gainsay nor
resist. It is impossible to estimate the power of such an
example. Nothing will so successfully defeat the devices
of Satan and his emissaries, nothing will so build up the
Redeemer’s kingdom, as will the love of Christ
manifested by the members of the church. . . .
No matter how high his profession, he whose heart is
not imbued with love for God and for his fellow men is
not a disciple of Christ. Though he should possess great
faith, and even have power to work miracles, yet without
love his faith would be worthless. He might display great
liberality, but should he from some other motive than
genuine love bestow all his goods to feed the poor, the
act would not commend him to the favor of God.—
Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 167, 168.
Friday, November 24
For Further Reading
My Life Today, “My Spirituality Strengthened and My
Health Improves,” p. 246;
The Ministry of Healing, “Healing of the Soul,” pp. 73–
79.