The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1893-01-24
chRIeIlAN ENpEAYoR.
Topic for the Week Beginning Jan
Comment by Rev. S. II. DOYLE.

Topic for the Week Beginning Jan. 20.
Comment by Rev. S. II. Doyle.
Tor1c-The day of small things. Gods bless
ing upon It. christian Endeavor Day. Zech.
~, ~; job viii, 81.
No movement in modern times in
church lines has so wonderfully illus.
trated that under Gods blessing small
things may become great as the Chris
tian Endeavor movement. Organized
in the winter Of 1sS0-l to meet the needs
Of an individual church, today it has
spread itself all over the Christian world.
In 1881 there wero but two societies and
membership of sixty-eight. Today
there are in Cllristcndcm ever 21.000 SO
cieties. with membership not less than
100000. In the rebuilding of the tenn
pie by Zerubbabcl we have another illus.
tration of the Same character Czech. iv,
10y, and in Job viii, 81. Bildad makes the
statement that under Gods blessing,
Though thy beginning WIS small, yet
thy latter end should greatly increase.
Note.
/. Mans attitude toward the day OF
small things Czech. ". 10y. Zcrubbabel
was rebuilding the temple ut Jerusalem.
The beginning was very small i'll compar'
son to the great work that must be done,
1t was 60 small that the workers were dis
couraged. twas sosinall that both friend
and enemy despised it as a day of small
things. This is an illustration OF mans
usual attitude toward the day of small
things. One usual tendency is to de
spise and to lock upon with contempt
and disgust whatever has small and
insignificant beginning. IL is not until
it has reached reached gigantic proper.
tons and Yields untold influence that Q
new movement gains our admiration and
unqualified applause. Lot thought Zoal
of no consequence, because it was little
city. Elijah thought Gods cause was OF
no influence in the reign of Jezebel be
cause it was not supported by large
numbers of open advocates. The people
despised the temple because the begin
ming was SO unpretentious Christ's
kingdom was doubtless ridiculed in its
early history because it was the day Of
small things with it. Such is mans at
titude toward trifles; but it is a false
one, for, as Michael Angelo, the sculptor
says, "Trifles make perfection, end per
lection is no trifle." Everything must
have beginning, and, no matter how in
significant that beginning, under Gods
blessing the end may be great.
2. Gods attitude toward the day Of
small things" Czech. Nv, 10y God never
despises small beginnings. he blesse:
them, and they become great. The TEN
pie was completed because he was in tht
work and it was his work. In Gods
work the day of small things is not to b'
despised Flo is all powerful and what
may seem impossible to man is possible
to God. Though the instruments may
be weak and insignificant, yet under
Gods blessing great results may b
achieved. The mountain Of difficulty
becomes as level plain. The small
stone cut out of the mountain without
hands increases until it fills the whole
earth. The grain of mustard used be
comes great tree. The loaves and fshe:
multiply until thousands are fed. De
spise not the day of small things. Per
form earnestly and faithfully all duties
small and great. and leave results will
God.
Bible References-Ps. xxxvii, 16: Prov
XIV, Is; lisa. II, 1-6 Mic. " 2; Math
ii. 6; v, 10: Z, 39-42: Mark iv. 90-32; xii
41-a4; Luke xii, 30; xiii. IS, 10; xvi, 10
l Cor. V, 6: | Tim. vi, G-S.