Manuscript Releases, vol. 16 [Nos. 1186-1235]

MR No. 1195—By Deeds of Mercy Christians are to be God's Helping Hands

New Believers Need Temporal Help—The families we have helped to the camp meeting are not a cheap class of people, but intelligent. One brother is the elder of the church at Prospect; another has had a good business, but has met with reverses. These families must receive help all the time until they can get employment. Dollars and dollars I have to expend to provide food for the hungry, and clothing for those too poor to buy. But they are God's property; they have newly come to the faith; they are God's chosen children.—Letter 42, 1894. (Written to H. W. Kellogg, from Ashfield, NSW, October 24, 1894.) 16MR 68.1

New Believers Require Follow-up Work—I do not think it can be your duty to go to Europe now. The state of the cause is such that all the help we can get is needed. 16MR 68.2

I am now writing upon the great mistakes made in extending our labors where we cannot look after it, and having a feverish unrest to create new interests and leave the people already raised up to die for want of help. This is the case all over the different States. I tell you, there must be more visiting the churches and caring for those already raised up, strengthening the things that are ready to die. While churches everywhere are in such suffering need, one cannot be spared.—Letter 1, 1879. (Written to S. N. Haskell, from Denison, Texas, January 27, 1879.) 16MR 68.3

More Workers Needed to Spread Light—Willie, your heart would ache to look upon this vast field in Texas with only one preacher and calls coming in from every direction for help. I tell you that God could use hundreds of young men if they would only give themselves to the work to labor humbly in God. Oh, I do feel that we should appoint one day in a month for fasting and prayer for the Lord of the harvest to raise up men who shall go into the field and sow the seeds of truth. What can be done? My soul is stirred to its very depths. So many are in darkness, yet longing for light. They are not satisfied with their present condition. They are pleading for preachers to come. They hear the Word gladly but the moral darkness is so great one or two discourses are shedding merely a glimmer of light. 16MR 69.1

There are needed not only ministers but those who can act as missionaries—men and women of good understanding, of moral worth with moral backbone, who can circulate around among the people and shed light, precious light, everywhere.—Letter 15, 1879. (Written to W. C. and Mary White, from Denison, Texas, January 28, 1879.) 16MR 69.2

The Value of Hospitality—Yesterday it all opened before me that in this very line of hospitality I have been repeatedly shown that we can unite the people with us, and can have twofold influence over them. This was unfolded before me in the first experience in this work, many years back, and we have ever linked our interest with humanity.—Letter 135, 1894. (Written to W. C. White, from Granville, NSW, August 6, 1894.) 16MR 69.3

Cannot Pass By the Needy—We cannot with our wills sway back the wave of poverty which is sweeping over this country; but just as far as the Lord shall provide us with means, we shall break every yoke and let the oppressed go free. We cannot look upon our people, and see them in distress, and yet, like the priest and Levite, pass by on the other side.—Letter 41, 1895. (Written to J. H. Kellogg, from Granville, NSW, October 25, 1895.) 16MR 69.4

Pure Religion Revealed in Deeds of Mercy—I cannot sleep after half past two o'clock. I wish to speak to my brethren who occupy positions of trust. As God's husbandry you are invested with the responsibility of acting in His stead, as His helping hand. Those who are placed in positions of trust must have the authority of action, but they are never to use this authority as a power to refuse help to the needy and helpless. It is never to be exercised to discourage or depress one struggling soul. Let those to whom have been given positions of influence ever remember that God desires them to carry out the mind of Christ, who, by creation and redemption, is the owner of all men. Just as long as a man is imbued with the Spirit of Christ, he is registered in the books of heaven as a co-partner with God. He is God's helping hand. As the disciples received bread from the hands of the Saviour to give to the people, so he receives divine grace to impart to those in need. And in the distribution, the gift is increased. 16MR 70.1

I wish we could appreciate more fully the value of the lesson taught by the miracle of feeding the five thousand. He who makes it his lifework to labor together with God, not apart from Him, is carrying out the purposes of Christ. It is only such who are fit to be entrusted with the work of dealing with human minds. Those who are not partakers of the divine nature cannot properly estimate the value of the human soul. They do not share in Christ's deep, earnest longing for the souls which cost such an immense price. They have not a personal piety. They cannot be trusted to work in Christ's lines, to lift up, not to tear down; to encourage, not to depress; to restore, not to mar and deface by their own imperfection. They are not safe, accurate judges of the necessities of the soul. They have not the pure, unselfish Spirit of Christ, and therefore they are not qualified to judge of human merit in cases that present peculiar difficulties. 16MR 70.2

By the great law of God man is bound up with his fellow man. To the answer given by the lawyer: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself,” Christ said, “Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” 16MR 71.1

In these few words are laid down the terms of eternal life. True godliness is measured by the work done. Profession is nothing; position is nothing; a character like the character of Christ is the evidence we are to bear that God has sent His Son into the world. Those who profess to be Christians, yet do not act as Christ would were He in their place, greatly injure the cause of God. They misrepresent their Saviour, and are standing under false colors. 16MR 71.2

The true disciple, in whose heart Christ abides, shows forth to the world Christ's love for humanity. He is God's helping hand. The glow of spiritual health thrills his whole being as he receives from the Saviour grace to give to others. This is medical missionary work. Its performance heals the wounds inflicted upon disordered human nature by the one who was once a covering cherub but who through self-exaltation lost his high and holy estate, and took up a warfare against God and man. By his subtlety he led human beings into the pit of degradation, and it cost the life of the Son of God to redeem them. Christ gave His life to save every sinner. He is the light and life of men. He came as a mighty Physician, a great Medical Missionary, to heal the wounds sin had made in the human family. His mighty healing power sends a glow of spiritual health into the soul. 16MR 71.3

Pure and undefiled religion is not a sentiment, but a doing of works of love and mercy. This religion is necessary to health and happiness. It enters the polluted soul-temple, and with a scourge drives out the sinful intruder. Taking the throne, it consecrates all by its presence, illuminating the heart with the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. It opens the windows of the soul heavenward, letting in the sunshine of God's love. With it comes serenity and composure. Physical, mental, and moral strength increase, because the atmosphere of heaven, as a living, active agency, fills the soul. Christ is formed within, the hope of glory. 16MR 72.1

God calls upon us to show, by the exercise of true piety, that we are under divine enlightenment. When those connected with the service of God center their hopes on Jesus, a change will be seen in their deportment. Supreme love for God and unselfish love for their fellow men will place them on vantage ground. 16MR 72.2

The gospel is good tidings of great joy. Its promises bring light to the soul and shine forth as light to the world. Therefore Christ says to those who have received the gospel, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” 16MR 72.3

Again, He illustrates the living reality of a Christian life by the saving properties of salt. “Ye are the salt of the earth,” He says, “but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?” Solemn question! If the saving principles of truth are not exemplified by professing Christians, what benefit does the world derive from their lives? When salt has lost its savor, “it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” 16MR 73.1

When Christians do not reveal Christ, of what value are they? Are they not, like savorless salt, “good for nothing”? But when they reveal in their lives the saving properties of the truth, poor, sin-hardened souls are not left to perish in corruption. God's works are seen, for the living principles of righteousness cannot be hidden. The gospel acted is like salt which contains all its savor. It is powerful in the saving of souls. 16MR 73.2

Christ inculcates the value of obedience, saying, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Is it not best for us to keep the commandments, so that through us God can reveal His power? If all God's people were obeying His commandments, they would indeed be lights in the world. 16MR 73.3

God's promises to the obedient are “good tidings of great joy.” They are gladdening to the humble, contrite soul. The life of the true Christian is radiant with the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. If men and women would act as the Lords helping hand, doing deeds of love and kindness, uplifting the oppressed, rescuing those ready to perish, the glory of the Lord would be their rereward. Then they would not send thousands of miles to learn from human beings their duty. They would call, and the Lord would answer, “Here am I.” They would turn to the One close beside them, who has given them the promise, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” 16MR 73.4

Look, thirsty, bewildered souls! Can ye not see the fountain of life opened for the weary, wayworn traveler? Can ye not hear the voice of mercy as she beckons to you, saying, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters”? “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” The waters of this fountain contain medical properties which will heal spiritual and physical infirmities. All are invited to wash away their pollution in this fountain. Drink deeply from the fountain opened for Judah and Jerusalem. Then you can take the refreshing cup to parched, fainting souls. 16MR 74.1

Christ said of His work, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.” Notice—you are not to comfort only the few whom you are inclined to regard with favor, but all that mourn, all who apply to you for help and relief; and more, you are to search for the needy. Job says, “The cause that I knew not, I searched out.” He did not wait to be urged, and then turn away, saying, “I will not help him.” 16MR 74.2

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.” 16MR 75.1

Wake up, wake up, my brethren and sisters. You must do the work that Christ did when He was upon this earth. Remember that you may act as God's helping hand in opening the prison doors to those that are bound. Wonderful is the work that God desires to accomplish through His servants, that His name may constantly be glorified. He is waiting to work through His people. Those who are willing to be used will obtain a rich experience, an experience of the goodness of God. 16MR 75.2

Of those who act as His helping hand the Lord says, “Ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord; men shall call you the ministers of our God.” [Isaiah 61:6-11; 62:2, 3, quoted.] 16MR 75.3

Shall we not try to crowd all the goodness and love and compassion we can into our lives, that these words may be said of us?—Letter 7, 1901. (Written to “Brethren Who Occupy Positions of Trust,” from St. Helena, California, January 17, 1901. Entire Letter.) 16MR 75.4

Ellen G. White Estate

Washington, D.C.,

June 5, 1986.