Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-01-27

10 IRE WIN tue SHttellux DldueS or SIN
Ia our hands which again and again
have proved impotent when the heat
Of the struggle Is on. We have often
read OF the duels In chivalric times. In
these mortal combats the trueness Of
b.. es decided whether the combatants
should live or die. We have read that
when some combatants We're Just at
the critical stage OF the duel = BILE ie
had snapped. Then there was a lun. 90
with sword. and the man who on q
held the false blade i'm his hand drop
ped at the feet or his adversary blood
soaked corpse. When we take the
blades OF sin we have false weapons in
our hands. In the heat of life's battles
these blades of sin will fail US every
time
The sword OF SIN.
Perhaps David was tempted to use
Sauls sword. as some of us are tempt
ed at times to go forth TO night the bat
ties Of life with the weapons OF sin In
our hands. Methlnks | can see the
shepherd boy take the jeweled blade
from the hands OF the kings armorer.
His face fiushes with pleasure. his eve
flashes. no runs his thumb along the
keen edge OF the blade, and ho looks at
the teweled hilt. what" says he-"is
the king going To let me have his own
swordi" But then David pushes IL
aside and says. Better q sling than
this cumbersome blade" So Satan
places the sword of sin In our hands.
We look ut Ii. 1t seems TO be a Jew
eled blade. We say to ourselves: at Is
only the sword OF just one lie. 1t is
only the sword of just one theft or
one deceit or one sim" We know we
can win victory with one blow from
that sword. Then we cannot bear to
lay II aside. But today let us push
away that sword OF sin at once. II
Will break In our hands as sure ms we
live. and 1t will lesye rs at the mercy
OF our foes.
"Well." says some one, 'you have
been telling us what kind Of weapons
not TO use. Now tell us the kind we can
so forth To fight Gods battles with.
How do We know with what David's
sling we are to fight? How did David
knowf What was his best slIng?" Well,
my friends, l am not here to tell your
particular sling, but l am here to tell
| you bow you can find out about that
sling. As rule. the sling which YOU
IRE TO use IN the battle OF life Is the one
that you can WELD the easiest.
Let me illustrate my thought in g
simple way: When you were a little
child tie FIRST intellectual passion your
parents recognized in you was your
love for music. IL some one sat down
TO play at the piano and you were cry
Ing you Immediately ceased to cry. AS
soon rs you were able you climbed up
on the music stool and began TO pick
out the different notes with your club
by fingers. For hours and hours you
| can sit and listen to music People say
you are born musician. IL were you
/ would develop that talent for Christ
] would go and sing and play in every
sickroom could enter. 1 would go &c
hospital and mission hall and church
ehoir loft. To sing and to play is FOL
| you to WELD David's sling. Develop
that intent, brother. Develop it fol
| Christ.
What is your talent for Christ? Well
i think I'm your case IL is n power over
little children. When you tell them
stories they will listen. You weave
the same strong spell about them that
Eugene Field wove- IL were you ]
would not spend most OF my time
learning how TO sew. When you pick
up needle all your fingers are thumbs
Develop your God given power to bring
children TO Christ That. o man, O
woman, Is your God given sling.
Develop Your Talent.
What is your talent for Christ? You
think you have not any? You say: II
cannot write or sing or play or preach
or make money. l am useless. have
not even one talent, let alone ten
Oh, yes. you have; you have n very
great talent. But you can develop that
intent even more than you can imagine.
Your talent, as far ms / can make out,
Is to live In the background OF life and
encourage other people 10 do their
work. 1t is very easy for you TO say
pleasant things. Keep on saying them.
Keep on your inspiring mission. Let
the elder In the prayer meeting know
how much his prayer has comforted
you. Let your minister know how
much his sermons help you. The tired
mother wants you to'tell her how fine
ly her boys and girls are doing. The
clerks want you to encourage them in
their work. God knows how much
you are needed everywhere, just to
keep on speaking words OF good cheer.
would encourage every man, wom-
sn and child to develop for Christ the
one especial God given talent which
has been bestowed on each one OF us
to work IN Gods service. IL 1t Is 10
preach. then let, us preach. II II is
TO teach. then let US teach. IL IL is 10
pray. then let US pray by the sick beds.
II IL Is to give money In his name. then
let us give OF our wealth. The great
trouble with this world Is that most OF
US ARE afraid 10 do our best In the time
God has given us TO do our work. We
are afraid 20 use our slings lest David's
brothers might laugh at us and ridi-
cuis US. BE yourself. o man. Be
your plain. natural self. Be it In the
pulpit. on the street, I'm the church
pew. Be 1t everywhere and God will
bless yeur work for Christ. Be your
self. o woman. BE your own sweet
self. BE II In the kitchen, In the par
Tor. BE. Ii with your Sunday school
class BE 1t everywhere. God will
bless you when you use your sling of
one talent. But remember that before
man rs well as before God you will be