Teaching Health Principles
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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 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 should ever remember that the object of the medical missionary
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
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to look to Jesus and live. Let the workers keep Christ, the Great
Physician, constantly before those to whom disease of the 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, 143, 144, 1905
Use Tact and Courtesy
792. In all your work remember that you are bound up with Christ,
a part of the great plan of redemption. The love of Christ, in a healing,
life-giving current, is to flow through your life. As you seek to draw
others within the circle of His love, let the purity of your language,
the unselfishness of your service, the joyfulness of your demeanor,
bear witness to the power of His grace. Give to the world so pure and
righteous a representation of Him, that men shall behold Him in His
beauty.
It is of little use to try to reform others by attacking what we may
regard as wrong habits. Such effort often results in more harm than
good. In His talk with the Samaritan woman, instead of disparaging
Jacob’s well, Christ presented something better. “If thou knewest the
gift of God.” He said, “and who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to
drink; thou wouldst have asked of Him, and He would have given thee
living water.” He turned the conversation to the treasure He had to