Devotional Thought

FAH General Meeting

November 23, 2017

Good deeds are the fruit that Christ requires us to bear; kind words, deeds of benevolence, of tender
regard for the poor, the needy, the afflicted. When hearts sympathize with hearts burdened with
discouragement and grief, when the hand dispenses to the needy, when the naked are clothed, the
stranger made welcome to a seat in your parlor and a place in your heart, angels are coming very near,
and an answering strain is responded to in heaven. Every act of justice, mercy, and benevolence, makes
melody in heaven. The Father from His throne beholds those who do these acts of mercy, and numbers
them with His most precious treasures. “And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day
when I make up My jewels.” Every merciful act to the needy, the suffering, is regarded as though done
to Jesus. When you succor the poor, sympathize with the afflicted and oppressed, and befriend the
orphan, you bring yourselves into a closer relationship to Jesus.—Testimonies for the Church 2:25.

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 6:276.

Many wonder why their prayers are so lifeless, their faith so feeble and wavering, their Christian
experience so dark and uncertain. “Have we not fasted,” they say, “and walked mournfully before the
Lord of hosts?” In the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah, Christ has shown how this condition of things may
be changed.... Verses 6, 7. This is the recipe that Christ has prescribed for the faint-hearted, doubting,
trembling soul. Let the sorrowful ones, who walk mournfully before the Lord, arise and help someone
who needs help.—Testimonies for the Church 6:266.

The glory of heaven is in lifting up the fallen, comforting the distressed. And wherever Christ abides in
human hearts, He will be revealed in the same way. Wherever it acts, the religion of Christ will bless.
Wherever it works, there is brightness.—Christ's Object Lessons, 386.