The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-10-06

pcrrOrmeu ms 'urSt miracie mere 10
teach Us that nothing In life IL too
small or too Insignificant 10 do II Oy
that little act we can bring happiness
into some loving heart.
Where was this FIRST miracle per
formedY In Cana. What does that
meanf Christ started his earthly min
lstry among his near neighbors and
friends Cana is only a short distance
from Nazareth. lie did not leave home
and 20 among strangers TO find COS
pel field. lie began right among the
friends and companions OF his youlh
In all probability there was not
guest at this famous wedding who did
not personally know him. Not
grown man or a grown woman was
there but had scou him q barefooted
hoy running over the Zebulun bills
There was not among all those guests
one who had not felt the touch OF bis
personal life upon bis OF her life. This
personal touch Of Christ has 10 me
grest lesson. The wonderful picture
Of the wedding In Cana Of Galilee 10
the Partisan Louvre teaches II In more
ways than one There the old master
has the laughing eyed maidens and the
Young men whispering their secrets In
their ears. There the table Is groan
ing under the most tempting OF dishes
There are the old folks and the chill
dren. But there In that wedding scene
the artist has assembled all the mem
beers Of bis own family and all bis
friends His wife Is there His mother
il there His children are all there.
His nelghbors are there Beautiful and
suggestive fact is that. II means as
Christ performed his "Grst miracle In
Cana among his friends and neigh
bors we must begin our earthly Chris
tan service among those we love and
hold dear. DO not be gospel messen-
ger only to the heather. Go and hnd
your nelghbors and talk TO them about
the atouement OF the cross Find the
heather at your very door
But we must not olrcumscribe our
gospel ministry 10 our homes and our
neighbors and our friends. We must
not say. Because Chrlst performed
bic first miracle at q wedding there
fore we will only attend the weddings
and the festivities Of the young peo
pie" We have a greater mission than
that No sooner were these young
folks married and started out IN the
world with gospel good cheer than
Christ went forth into the world to
continue that ministry He went
among the strangers lie went to
those who cursed and derided and ulti-
mately slew him. He went 20 those
who would have nothing TO DO With
him. lie went among the sinners and
the outcasts 10 carry to them the bread
OF life" He went 10 Mary Magdalene
and TO the house Of despised 2accheus.
He went everywhere where the sins OF
mankind were calling for the need Of
a Saviour. From amid the songs and
the merrymakings Of this nuptial ban
ouet will you and carry the message
Of Christ to an outside sinful world
VIII we preach Christ amid the cypress
As well as amid the orange blossoms
VIII we preach Christ under the moan
ing weeping willows as well as among
the singing multltudes Of weddings OF
GalIleel 1T is better to 90 10 the
house of mourning than TO the house
OF feastlng." It is your duty to 60 IL
both places But remember oh. Chris
tian. those who are preparing 10 enter
another world and 10 be married to
death need you ~ much as those who
are about to place upon their fingers
the wedding ring Of gold which Will
encircle that finger after the A0sh has
withered away IN the grave.