Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-01-12
Christian EndeaYOr.
Topic for the Week beginning Jan. q
Co.n..ana h. r.. IL n....I1

Topic Tor the Week beginning Jan.
Comment by Rev. 5. II. Doyle.
ToPIc.-The duty Of every day. Are We do
ing itf Ez. iii, 4; Eph. vi, 6-S.
The rough, unhewn block Of marble il
not transformed into thing of beauty
by rough stroke from the sculptor.
Repeatedly the blows must fall, making
changes here a little and there a little,
until at last by nulnberless seemingly in
significant acts a mighty work is per-
formed. Thus character is builded.
No character is developed by one act or
IN single day. Day by day we must
perform the duties that come TO us if at
last we would possess character of
beauty and desirability. Hence the i'm
portance Of paying particular attention
to the performance of the duty of every
day.
/. They offered the daily burnt offer
ings by number, according to the Gus
tom, as the duty of every day required
Ezra iii, d. BY permission of Cyrus,
king of Persia, the children of Israel
have returned from their captivity in
Babylon to rebuild the temple and walls
Of Jerusalem. In the seventh month the
people all gather together at Jerusalem
to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
This feast lasted for seven days. The
burnt offerings in ii were more numer-
GUS than in any other feast. Each day
had its peculiar sacrifices. These the
people of Israel observed, ''as the duty
of every day required, +" or, more literally.
''the duty Of the day in its day." Each
day had its peculiar duty, and it was
performed on that day. As each feast
day had its peculiar sacrifices, so today
each day has its particular duties. and
the example Of the Israelites in perform
ing regularly and Systematically these /
daily duties is one that may well be fol
lowed by all who are serving God.
2. Not with eye service, as men I
pleasers, but as the servants of Christ.
doing the win of God from the heart
(Eph. vi, o.. In giving instructions to
as to how they should obey
their masters and serve them, Paul lays
down principles which may apply to
daily Christian service 1t was not to
be eye service. Eye service is labor
when the master is present, and indo-
lence and neglect so soon as he is gone.
such work has always been character
stic Of slavery. The slave can have no
higher aim than to please the one stand
ing over him with the lash, who has the
power to punish. Paul urges the serv-
ants to higher service, not as simply
working for men, but remembering that
hey belonged not to men, but to Christ. {
md to please him they were to do their
work faithfully and well, whether or
10 the overseer was standing over !
hem, whip in hand Among our I
iaily duties will be many that apply {
TO our fellows-duties in ,
he house, social obligations, business re- 1 i
possibilities and the like The Chris i
ian should perform these duties regular !
y and faithfully, not simply as doing !;
hem to man, but as Christ's servants.
he eyes of men may not always be upon e
IS to see that we do our duty as we :
ught, but God sees us always Chris n
ian Endeavorers, let us perform all the Il
ocular duties of each and every day, I
'hether to God or to man, in such i
'ay that when the all seeing eye of p
rod looks down upon MS his verdict e
pom our lives may be. "Thou art doing
he duty of every day. v
Bible References-Num iv, 10; Ps. Xxi,
; Xxi, Is; Prov. viii, 1894 DAN vi, 10: L
lark xiii, 1881; Luke tx, %; xi. 3; Cor. v
V, 81; Eph. V, 1920; Rom. viii, $3.50: g
hill. iv, As; Col. iii, IS, "a; Rev. xvi. 10. ',