Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-13
Gods RcdeemingLove
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOMifINS.
Text, Psnlms I23 and I.f.

All that we have been studying OF
Old Testament history finds meaning
only as we see Co.'s loving hand lead
ing Ills children toward the light.
From the very first, when God promised
that the seed OF the woman tand That
seed was Christ'O tGal. ILL., lG) should
bruise the serpents head, our rather
has been seeking TO bring His chilcren
back 10 Himself that they might know
the peace OF Righteousness. History
is an empty category of deeds and
words unless we use this key of Gods
love to unlock the doors and reveal
ITO us the meaning Of IL all. When
tthrist came. the fun revelation OF
Gods love was made, and IA. Cross
#hccamc the fulfImcnt Of all that they
& hoped for in the old Testament and
, the promise of all that we haze str:vcn
for since. From Isaiah to Malachi the
prophets proclaimed the truth, and men
like Ezra and Nehemiah applied NAT
truth 20 the lives of the people. Ns
We look back we can see more plainly
than the Jews Of that time could Sc.
how the Almighty was preparing Il way
hack IN perfect Eden. Ever when
u" WAS severe with them ana suffered
ihcm 10 be evil treated through ~
rants" He was bringing them nearer
10 iiiInsclf and leading them N the
path which should finally take them
hoIne
David realized all this more man
any other Of the Old Testament VIII
"rs Psalm evil Is a wonderful inter-
probation, OF Gods dealings with Us.
and Psalms c%xji!. and cxxiv whiI..
having particular application to local
eaperienccs yet bring to us a pic
iurc of how God loves His people aud
cares fo,' them. in our own lives IL
- harder TO sec how We are being lci
ny Coos love. When the burdens ar.
heavy and troubles press we cannot
always feel tina, Cod loves US: but Their.
is something better and surer than
!1eiInG namely. AuowlcdYc
POINTS TO DANGERS or
UNCONTROLLED EMOTIONS
We are such emotional folk that We
paN quite too much attention TO sensa-
hons. ana hence much OF our suffer
M hnds it's origin have JUS, been
rrading book which is stramg.
psychological study, and at the root
Of the sorrow and sin which II de-
p'cts lies uncontrolled emotion II il
startling to see the extremes to which
passion VIII drive people when they
Nleid themselves ever so slightly to it's
'O'ninanG Not THAI emotion in self is
wrong. Coo has given us the power u
Ire terrible Il We did not have these
.aiciy valves. as il were. through
winch appreciation and grief could .x-
press themselves. But hen emotion
makes us slaves and we become purely
and Simply emotional" then there is
Weakness and nnal!y sin with its tragic
results. The reason God bids us love
Him wiki our minds as well as with
our hearts is Wat our affection may be
strengthened To know God is some
hinE more :hau 10 feet emotion abou,
Kim. though tie emotion has it's place:
"a Is 10 hav" tn-t Arm knowlcge con-
'"tnAnS Him which calmly and stead
'hNil! an! confidently leads TO rcli-
aire We gam II through study OF His
Word and tie history OF Ills people.
We gam l. through an honest study a.
histoFN OF humanity and nature where
IN "oih cases, there is a constant adj
vance found. But we gain IL chiefly
through obedience. through worship
rad prayer ana service. which convince
us o% "A process higher thin reasoning
because Gods inspiration is divine. that
I'D is love AS well as wisdom and
po%cr
cAN ALWAYS RELY on THE
LOVING Kindness OF GOD
First. We can always rely upon this
OWING kindness of God However any
lnGie hour OF experience may seem 10
esSni:aGiCt it, the whole dav or wear OF
NE proves IT. suppose David him
sell al times wondered why God per
united certain things il He really loved
Why hast Thou forsakcn me-. no
cried. lob certainly questioned why
sod lot him suffer. though he never LEI
himself doubt Gods love. We cannot
understand the arithmetic of Heaven"
cried Daniel Webster and certainly we
cannot understand the philosophy or
q
absolutely and positively, without n
iremor, be sure that God loves US IL
Is tact so grounded in all that Christ
Taught. IN All that Christians have eS-
rcTienccd. in the very fact OF Gods
existence, that we can build upon it and
go on our way rejoicing. 1t is the
Only iact IN the world. All other facts
result from 1t and draw their truth
from H. am--that is fact; but 7
am because God is. He created M.
think: hut think because God is et.r
nal knowledge; He gives me power TO
mink. The sun rises-that is a fact
Though poorly expressed for really
The cart hrevoives and so the sun seems
to risc). But the sun rises because
there rs God who makes il rise and
who rules all nature. Hence the one
great central truth of life +; Gods
existence: and because He is God He IS
loving kindness.
know not where His islands lift
Their fronded palms in air:
only know ] cannot drift
Beyond His love and care.
EEDErIING LOVE IS
PATIENT WITH WORLD
Second. This rcdceming love is pa
ten; with me and with the world. How
long God pleaded with Israel. and at
last lie sent His Son to save, For
thousa nds of years He has striven with
men. to whom He gave free will, else
they would not have been r,en but
slaves: and He is still striving, seek
ing 10 teach them that only in right
couSnesS can peace be found. 1t is
toe most wonderful characteristic of
GODS divine nature. this patience And
IL we are sincere in our desire to reach
p lection we need never be afraid that
God may grow weary of helping us
Aa earthly mother does not grow tired
because her little child finds il slow
thing TO walk or speak.
1deed in after years she longs for
the years OF early effort to come bacj,
again and recalls with love the first
struggles. SO my God never grows
weary. AS often as ] come He is there
20 welcome and help and encourage.