The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-03-12
cons SERVICE CHEERFUL.

Sin brought sorrow, darkness, and death
into our world. Christ came to bring glad.
ness, light, and life into it. The command
of God is "Serve the Lord with gladness."
What is the idea of service? Christ tells US:
81 am among you as be that serveth. a
servant is one who is under orders, who eX-
poets to obey them, and who receives re-
wards for obedience. He is governed by the
laws of another, and finds his happiness IN
obeying the laws Of his master. God is the
excellent Master both in His commands and
in the character of His service. Christ con-
sented to take upon himself the limitations
of human nature, walked within the COM
mands of His Father, and cheerlu!ly tul-
filled the part assigned to Him IN the
glorious work of mans redemption.
Every one of us was created to serve God,
and to find our highest happiness in His
service. Each one OF US is a part OF Gods
plan, and all are included in His gracious
providence. He controls the time OF our
birth, the surrounding circumstances, and
the events of our lives. We, each one Tor
himself, may render loyal service in the
sphere appointed him. The mechanic in
his shop, the farmer behind the plough, the
merchant in his store, the mother in the
home and the servant in the kitchen, may
each and all be serving God most effectively.
This service was designed to be cheerful
service Take few reasons Tor IT; God IS
most gracious Master. Some human mas
tiers are 80 reasonable, SO patient and so just,
that it Is pleasure to serve them. God IS
so kind, so sympathetic, so discriminating,
and 80 patient that it is a Joy to be III His
service. His commands are good i'll them
selves, and work out good, when obeyed, TOR
the creature.
WHY is it that Christians so commonly
separate between the daily life and the acts
of spiritual devotion? In true sense all
work for God may be q part Of our wor-
ship. The special acts of devotion, III what
may be termed in the highest sense worship
of God, are the channels for the outflow OF
the soul to God. The plants grow by night,
but are especially pushed forward by the
sunlight. So the acts Of daily life may be
the foundation of the spiritual lie within
the soul.
leaven our whole spiritual life. 1t will soon
change our whole system of duties into
privileges. "Diligent in business, tervent
in spirit, serving the Lord" 1t will lift the
burdens, transform the trials, ,enoble the
lives, and change us all more and more into
the image OF Christ. I'm the world ye
shall have tribulation; but in me ye shalt
have peace." What comfort is like that OF
feeling that we are contending for the Mas
ter lust where he wishes us to be:
Even the inheritor Of despondlns nature
may So strive to overcome this, painful
iemperament, as to become cheerful unGef
the GOOD hand of God. Such cheerful
service will not only bring happiness TO the
doer: it will also make the service OF Goo
attractive to those who have MT entered
upon it. No one comes to Christ because OF
his attractiveness alone; it is the burden OF
sin fiat makes q sinner willing to come.
Rut if Christians may be 80 cheerful that
thew can commend Christ to others because
he helms them so mnch. this testimony has
mower behind it-WnstrGted Chr. Weekly.
THE COFFEE BARROW.
The Young Womans Christian Temper
ancs Union Of Montreal, Canada, has sent to
London for coffee barrow. It will weigh
about 800 pounds will be provided with
large fire box water and cocoa, if desired,
small cupboard for cups, saucers, etc. also
drawer where pens, ink, pledge cards and
temperance literature may be kept. 1t is
hoped by supplying good, hot coffee at
lower price than a glass Of liquor can be
bought, to help reclaim the drinking work
ingmen as well as to keep many young men
from acquiring taste for intoxicants.