Evening journal., 1911-06-16
Christian Endeavor
Society
Topic for June Is. Grace for Common
Duties. Epb. 4;25, 26; 5;1,2.

Duties. Eph. 4:s5, s6; 5;l,2.
The little sharp vexations-the briars
that catch and fret,
Why not take the mall to the Master,
who has never failed us yet?
Tell Him about the heartache, and tell
Him the longings, too;
Tell Him the baffled purpose when we
scarce know what to do.
Then leaving all our weakness with
the One divinely strong,
Forget that we bore the burden, and
carry away the song.
Just as the machinery needs oil in
order that it may run without the
friction and wear and tear that would
ruin it, so We need the grace of God to
enable us to accomplish the duties of
life smoothly. TO eliminate the fret and
the worry, the mental wear and tear
which would otherwise tend to spoil
our lives just as the machinery would
be ruined by being run without oil.
We need more Of this grace for the
common duties than for the uncommon
ones, for the small ordinary tasks than
for the great ones, because there are
more of them and they are less in
spring There is inspiration in doing
some great thing for the Master but
oh, the common duties, the everyday
little tasks with which our lives seem
so taken up that it seems hopeless to.
think of being of any real use in the
world. It is for these duties that we
need Gods grace to enable us TO see
that all service is Christ's service, and
that the faithful performance of the
little things He gives us TO do is just
as pleasing 10 Him as the greater
things we think VIC might be doing.
We must buy and sell in the markets,
we must earn our daily bread,
But just in the doing these usual acts
may the soul be helped and fed.
II is not by keeping the days work and
the days prayer separate, so,
But by mixing the prayer with the
labor, that the soul is taught TO
grow.
For sweeping a room by Gods law is
a service He deigns to bless.
And mending a kettle worthily is
working for Him no less
Than steering steady the ship of state
or welding the sword of war,
Or lifting the soul of man by song
to the heights where the angels
arc.
Did you ever think that when the
Lord told the discouraged fishermen 70
cast their nets again it was right IN
the same old place where they had
been working all night and had caught
nothing2 If we could only go on 10
some new place every time we get dis
couraged, trying again would be an
easier thing. If we could be somebody
else, or go somewhere else, or 90
something else. it might not be hard
to have fresh faith and courage, but
II is the same old net in the same old
pond for most of us. The old, drcary
tasks are to be done over again, the
same temptations TO be overcome, the
old faults TO. be conquered, the old
trials and discourag gements to be
faced again. But after all. il IS the
Master himself who bids US try again
after all the toilful Efforts which we
.feel have accomplished nothing, and
ii is the Master himself who says MY
grace is sufficient for thee Nothing
can be really failure which is obedient
to His command, and some bright
morning the great draught' Of re-
ward will come.
We have all known people who. DO
the tasks which come to them readily
enough. but who do them in such an
ungracious spirit, in such a complain
ing and grumbling manner, that we
wish they had left them undone. How
different is the gracious spirit, the
spirit of those who do the little com
monplace duties in such cheerful
manner that they brighten up the most
.monotonous tasks. Whether therefore
We eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye
do. do all 10 the glory of God.
Oh. we need this grace for the COM
mon duties of life Are you hedged IN
on every side? Is your calling one
which the world calls mean or num-
bic? Are your opportunities seemingly
small and do you despond because
vour progress seems slow? Remem-
her that il you have only one taleh'
Won are responsible only for the wise
cmplovment of that one talent. If you
cannot do all that you would wish
Won can at least do your very best IN
what God has given you to do, and thai
is an that He asks Of any of us.
There is a story told of certain
prince who went out into his vineyard
10 examine it, and coming to the peacf
tree he said, "What arc you doing fol
me?'
And the tree said, 'ln the spring
give my blossoms and fill the air witt
Fragrance, and on my boughs hans
the fruit which presently men vii
gather and bring into the palace fol
you"
And the prince said, well done
good and faithful servant"
And he came to the maple and HI
said. What are you doing?
And the maple said, Il am makini
nests for the birds, and shelter the cat
tie with my leaves and spreading
branches"
And the Prince said. well done
good and faithful servant.
And he went down into the meadow
and said 10 the waving grass, 'Wha
are you doing?"
And the grass said, eve are giving
up our lives for others-fOr your sheel
and cattle, that they may be nourish
ed
And the Prince said, well done
good and faithful servants, that Civ
up your lives for others"
And then he came to a little dais,
that was growing in the hedgerow
and said. What are you dOing?
And the daisy said, Nothing! moth
ingl / cannd make a nesting place TO
the birds, and I cannot give snelte
to the cattle, and / cannot send frui