Christ identified Himself with the necessities of His people. Their needs and their sufferings were His. He says: “I was an hungered, 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.” God’s servants should have hearts of tender affection and sincere love for the followers of Christ. They should manifest that deep interest that Christ brings to view in the care of the shepherd for the lost sheep; they should follow the example given by Christ and exercise the same compassion and gentleness, and the same tender, pitying love that He has exercised toward us. {3T 186.2}

[Kristus gjorde sig til eet med sit folk i deres trang. Deres behov og deres lidelser var også hans. Han siger: »Thi jeg var sulten og l gav mig at spise; jeg var tørstig og I gav mig at drikke; jeg var fremmed og I tog jer af mig; jeg var nøgen og I gav mig klæder jeg var syg og I så til mig; jeg var i fængsel og I besøgte mig.« Guds tjenere bør have ømme, medfølende hjerter og en oprigtig kærlighed til dem, der følger Kristus. De bør åbenbare den dybe interesse, som Kristus viser i hyrdens omsorg for det fortabte får; (187) de bør følge det eksempel, Kristus har givet og øve den samme medlidenhed og mildhed, den samme ømme, kærlige medynk, som han har vist os.