Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-01
Christian Endeavor Hour
For Sunday. August 2, 1908.

Topic: "Songs of the Heart. VIII. How Can
We Serve the Church?'' tConsecration meet
ing.p Psalm Hxxiv.
1. How amiable are Thy tabernacles, o
Lord Of hosts!
g My soul longeth. yea. even fainteth.
for the courts of the Lord; my heart and
my flesh crieth out for the living God.
3. Yea. the sparrow hath found an
house, and the swallow nest for herself,
where she may lay her young. even Thine
affairs, o Lord of hosts, my King and
my God.
4. Blessed are they that dwell in Thy
house: they will be still praising Thee.
s. Blessed is the man whose strength ID
in Thee; in whose heart are the ways OF
them.
/ 6. Who. passing through the valley Of
Baca, make it we'll; the rain also hlleth
the pools.
Z. they go from strength to strength,
every one of them in Zion appeareth' be-
fore God.
8. O Lord God of hosts. hear my prayer;
give ear. o God of Jacob.
g. Behold, God our shield, and look
upon the face of Thine anointed.
10. For day in Thy courts is better
than thousand. I had rather be door
keeper in the house of my God than 10
dwell in the tents of wickedness.
/ L..
shield: the Lord will give grace and
glory: no good things will he withhold
| from them that walk uprightly:
| H. o Lord of hosts. blessed is the man
| that trusteth In Thee.
Some one has recalled how the Gauls
were at a disadvantage when they fought
the Romans. because their SWORDS were
short and blunt. while those OF the no
mans were long and keen. giving their
adversaries terrible deep trusts. and sug-
gests that when Gods people seek to
fight the world with the sword OF reason
or science or expediency, they Will pc
worsted every time. Only with the SWORD
of the Spirit can Gods people fight to ad-
vantage. The first and best way we can
serve our church is to grow into the spirit
of our text by constant communion with
God, and by studying His word, until we
shall feel. as the psalmist did. that one
day in Thy courts is better than thou
sand spent elsewhere. In Word. the
best way to serve the church is to be the
real thing" to be Christian way down to
the core of things, and not let 1t be possi-
BILE for it to be- said of us as the boy said
of his father when asked if his parent
was a Christian: Yes. he's Chr1stlan,
but he amt workin' at 1t now"
Alexander Maclaren says: This psalm
may serve as a warning against prema,
ture attempts to dispense with outward
aids to inward communion
But high as is the psalmists flight OF
mystic devotion he does not soar SO far
as to lose sight of plain morality, as mys-
tics have often been apt to do. 1t Is the
man who walks in His integrity who may
hope to receive these blessings. without
holiness no man shall see the Lord ana
neither access to His house nor the piess-
ing flowing from His presence can pc
long to him who Is falthiess 10 MS own
convictions of duty"
A farmer was once priding himself to
| his minister upon his regular attendance
at church. why" said he, IF were
absent three times from church half the
parish would be asking after my health
The minister replied that church attend
ance was a good thing, but church and
market agree In one point. more go to
each than ever do business at them He
asked the farmer If he always prohted at
church. and suggested that the mere car
rying of ones body there, while 1t was
a good habit and put one in the way OF
getting good. still was not the whole thing.
A man must be lin the spirit, and must
live up to his church going all the week.
Plutarch says that nothing contributed
to the greatness and glory Of Rome
more than the fact that when people
were conquered. instead of being de-
stroyed. they were incorporated with her
and partook of the same privileges and
in time were allowed to share her honors.
One great way to serve our church Is to
make all newcomers and all newly con-
verified people who come into its fold feel
at home. and open your circle wide
enough to take them in and give them
pleasant work. Don't make them feel
that they are not needed. Don't announce
that you always cook the oysters for the
oyster suppers. or let them feel that you
can run the Christian Endeavor or at
tend to the missionary boxes without any
help from them. In short. don't be ex-
elusive, for if you are you will surely
blight the natural growth of Gods be-
loved church. This even extends to being
willing to invite people to your homes.
especially those who are Of the house
hold of faith even though they may not
be as desirable social acquaintance as
some others.