Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-09
Sermon by
REV FLOYD w. TOyIKINS,
Texts Peter I. 3-l2.

cling as did David. God made US. and
He made the whole world with its
beauties for US. He sent His Son to
live and die for us, and Christ rose
again victorious over death that we
might We assured Of final victory in
spite OF temptation and weakness. And
He has PR red for an eternal
home: and has given work to
do for Him while we are here on earth.
ls not that outline sufficient to make
us realize the Joy of living? Only the
man who has lost the believing heart
or the man who is STEPPED in sin can
fail TO see how Christianity is n thing
Of Joy.
SPECIAL JOYS WHICH ARE
PRIVILEGES OF CHRISTIANS
Let US note now some of the special
Joys which It is our privilege to hold
as our own. daily. And first. there Is
me Joy OF worship. What delight
10 approach our loving Father morn
fellowship with Him. All else is for
gotten we bow In His presence.
telling Him OF our love and asking His
help. II II is Joy among men when
friend meets friend, how much greater
the Joy when We meet our Best Friend.
Think again OF the Joy OF service.
VIVA, q delight to do something for
God. Ecry day calls us to work. and
we can find all along the way little
opportunities which demand the best
Of US and which bring to us rich de-
lights. There are some people who
imagine that they cannot do very much:
hut. after ali. 1t is the spirit of CON
secration. that is. the spirit Of willing
ness to do. that insurcs success. 1t is
not the amount of product that can
be shown. but rather the spirit which
throbs through our deeds OF service.
workers. ! think II VAS Edward Ev-
erett Hale who wrote these fine words:
II am but one. bu. am one
] cannot do everything. but can do
something.
What can do. ought TO do
What | ought to do, by the grace Of
God ! will do
Lord. what wilt Thou have me do?"
There is an exhilaration in the con-
seriousness OF usefulness There is JOY
IN doing something for others In our
dear Masters name.
Joy IN GIVING UP
SOMETHING FOR CHRIST
Then there is the Joy of sacrifice
When we give up something Tor the
sake OF Him who gaze up much for
US; when deny ourselves In order
that we may help somebody. there
comes a big shaft Of sunlight into the
soul. which is at once life giving and
heart warming. He knows nothing Of
JOY who has not offered sacrifice. The
real deeps OF our being seem to be
stirred only when pruue some OF
our branches that more fruit may be
borne.
And now think for a moment of the
character of this JOY. II is not on the
surface. but II is way down where the
The little
surface pleasure is good enough in Its
way. but 1t has no real foundation. II
Is the Joy which has its associates
love and intelligence. and the pro-
phetic eye. and the surrender for right
eousness, that never be taken
away, because only the hand OF God
can reach II, and His hand does not
destroy, but fulfill.
Joy BRINGS WITH IT
MINGLING OF SORROW
Let us remember. too. that this JOY
has with 1t the miHgling of sorrow.
Sorrow and JOY are both found in life
and each has Its place; in sorrow there
IS always touch of happiness. and in
Joy which is deep and true there is
always suggestion of pathos. Who
does not know the emotion which comes
when some great landscape is viewed,
or some wonderful symphony is heard?
Who does not know what 1t is to he
80 happy mat the tears come! IL is TINS
fountain OF Joy. way down where the
jewell sparkles and where the moisture
rover fails, that proves not only Its d.
vine origin but Its lasting blessedness.
SO let us he happy Christians. sing
ir- on our way, finding joys even In
iha midst of the struggle. and knowing
ilat for those who trust in the dear
Lord there is peace even now, and there
viii ne lasting peace hereafter.
! hold joy. with which feel
A stranger intermeddleth not:
Which lies too deeply hid to steal,
Which wears a form too pure to blot.
Mine own II Is. all claim beyond
or none Its secret treasure knows;
So JOY can wholly correspond.
Naught early give IT cause, or close
II wakes within. I know not how
save that from Thee. o Holy Dove,
There comes, Christs cleansing to
avow,
= gladness lighting from above
I hold the JOY midst cares and pains.
Like secret kept on martyrs rack:
And meath repented sin remains
\ spark to bring the radiance back.
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