Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-07-15
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.

u, &34I.
The Sabbath day is the day specially
set apart by God for religious worship
and service, but it does not follow
from that that it is the only day upon
which we are to be religious. Every
day of the week is the Lords day, and
there Is no day upon which we are not
TO love and serve Him. These facts are
recognized by all people, and yet when
IL comes to actual practice many seem
to think that religion is only for the
Sabbath, that it is to be put on and
put off with clothes that are worn up
on that day, and that between Sundays
we can follow our own plans and de-
vices.
But Sunday religion only is not the
kind that is taught in the word of God.
There it is plainly taught that we are
to serve the Lord daily. The sacrifices
of the Old Testament were offered dali
ly, although they were doubled in
number upon the Sabbath. Christ
taught His disciples to pray daily for
their daily bread. Give us this day
our daily bread" The Bereans search
ed the Scriptures daily" and were
commended for SO doing. These were
more noble than those in Thessalonica
in that they received the word with all
readiness of mind and searched the
Scriptures daily whether these things
were So" And Luke, the sacred his
torian. gives us in the topical reference
a beautiful description of the religious
faith and activity of the early Chris
tians between Sundays.
In this description we can learn
many things that should characterize
our lives as Christian upon the days Of
the week:
1. Religious faith should be exercised
between Sundays. They continued
steadfastly in the apostles doctrine"
1t is not only necessary to believe in
God on the Sabbath when listening TO
His word in the sanctuary or reading
it In the home, but also when amid
the duties and cares of everyday life
during the week. The test of faith
comes oftener between Sundays than
upon the Sabbath, and at such times it
Should be Stead1aSt.
2. Religious fellowship should be ex-
ercised between Sundays. The early
Christians continued steadfast in the
apostles fellowship as we'll as doctrine.
They broke bread "frora house to
house" We should not only know each
other upon the Sabbath day, but upon
Monday or any other day of the week
1t is a low standard of Christian fell
lowship that only recognizes brother
in Christ in the church upon the Sab
bath day and refuses or neglects this
recognition during the week.
g. Religious worship should be ex-
ercised between Sundays. The early
Christians spent much time on week
days in worshiping God Praise and
prayer were their daily devotions.
'sThey continued daily with one ac-
cord in the temple and, breaking bread
from house to house, did eat their
meat with gladness and singleness of
heart, praising God" God should be
worshiped during the week. Praise
from the home, and if we cannot go
every day to His temple we should at
least set aside the time of the mid
week service held in almost every
church for public worship.
f. Religious work should be exer-
cised between Sundays. They assist
ed each other. And all that believed
Were together, and had all things
common; and sold their possessions
and goods, and parted them to all men,
as every man had need" The COM
munity of goods proved impracticable,
but the principle was sound. Chris
tian people should be interested in
each others daily welfare and should
lend a'helping hand ito all men, as
every man hath need" They also
worked for the salvation of the souls
of the unsaved. 1.-The Lord added to
the church daily such as should be
saved" but this is always done as a
result of Christian effort. We. should
have a daily interest in the salvation
Of the souls of men.
And what was the result of this car
rying religion into the days of the
week? a. They had favor with all
the peopler' A religion that is put on
and off with the Sabbath has little
favor among men, but religion that
manifests itself at all times, that is
practical and helpful, that is visible
daily in the home, in society and in
the business pursuits of life will al
ways find favor with men and influ-
ence them for good. (2) They found
favor with God. God blessed them by
giving them souls for their hire. Find
ing favor with the people and having
the daily blessing of God, it is little
wonder that these early Christians
did eat their meat with gladness and
singIeness 81 heart, praising Cod A
religion that is consistent will always
bring joy and gladness. Let us there
fore serve the Lord at all times, and
His favor and blessing will be con-
stantly upon us.
BIBLE READINGS.
DE- o. n.oxx IL.