Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-02-09
CHRISTIAN sNDgAvos.
Topic for the Week Beginning Feb. 5.
Comment by Rev. 5. ii. Doyle.


Topic for the Week Beginning Feb. 5.
Comment by Rev. 5. II. Doyle
ToPIc.-Joy in Gods service and in his
house. Rom. xiv. 1913; Ez. vi. 10.
The chief occupation of the Christian
is TO serve God in his life and woT-
ship him in his house Service may be
called worship out of Gods house and
worship service in Gods house. 1t Is
an easily proved fact that we always do
best what we take personal pleasure and
delight in. The studies are best learned
in which the student finds real pleasure.
That duty is best performed in which We
find delight, and which is not looked
upon merely in the light of cold, unat-
tractive duty. Since these things ara
true, how important that the Christian
shall find real and unalloyed pleasure in
serving God and in worshiping him in
order that he may give him the best
possible service and render to him the
most acceptable worship!
1. "The kingdom of God is not meat
and drink, but righteousness and peace
and joy in the Holy Ghost" Rom. xiv,
10. Paul is urging the stronger Roman
Christians 10 give up temporal desires
for the benefit of the weaker brethren,
giving as his reason that the highest
pleasures to the Christian are not to bs
found in these things, but in spiritual
things, the righteousness, peace and JOY
Of which the Holy Ghost is the author.
The true Christian should find his high
est Joys in the joys of salvation, and his
greatest delight in serving God, in doing
his Masters will We should be con-
tinually filed with joy not in spite of
our religion. but because Of it, because
we have made our peace with God, and
because we delight to serve him for all
his many blessings to us. 1t is a sad
commentary upon our religion when We
must 90 ont into the world and to world
ly pleasures to find enjoyment and de-
light. And yet that is the excuse Of
many Christians for participating in
worldly pleasures. Cultivate a spirit Of
JOY in serving God, such spirit that
will give you delight in doing every
thing that is good and in associating
with those who love God and serve him.
2. THE children of Israel kept the
dedication of the house of God with joy
(Ez. vi, 49, The dedication here re
ferred TO is that one which took place
after the return from captivity, when
the temple was rebuilt. In the books of
Ezra and Nehemiah much is said about
joy in the worship of Gods house. This
joyousness is twice noted in this one
chapter 1t is not without reason that
there was such joy in serving God in his
temple The children Of Israel had been
led away captives. They have for a
long time been deprived of the temple
service. They have passed through many
sorrows and grievous Affections. All
these things tend to make them appre
ciate the blessings of Gods house
True JOY can only come after we
have been sobered by sorrow. We
never appreciate blessing as we ought
until deprived of it for time, and often
God removes blessings to make us appre-
ciate them. But because we may al
ways have had place to worship is nc
reason why we should fail to find joy III
God. Religious services
SnOulu Always De Haue as joyous anu
bright as possible. Enter into the courts
of the Lord with joy and gladness.
Bible References Kings viii, 63-66,
| Chron xvi, 25-31; II Chron. vii, 8, 10.
Ps. xvi, IL; xvii, 10; xxi, l-6; xiii, 5;
xcvi, 8; Jer. vii, /, 2; Luke ii, 10, II;
John xvi, "a; Acts ii, 46, AZ; Cor. xiv,
90; Phil. iv, 4; Jas. V, 10; ! Pet. iv, 10.