The Washington herald., 1922-08-07
VISITING PASTOR
TELLS OF JOYS
OF REPENTANCE
Rev. C. r. Botsford, of
Cumberland, Of6ciates
at Luther Memorial.
By the REV. c. X. BOTSFOhD'
Luther Place Memorial.

.1These things have / spoken unto
you that Ny Joy might remain In
you. and that your Joy might oe
FULL" These words are from the
Gospel of John, chapter Is, verse H.
They were the text yesterday morn
ing of n sermon by Rev. c. r. Bots-
ford, Cumberland. Md, who Is sup
plying for two Sundays the pulpit
of Luther Place Memorial Church In
the absence of Pastor Diffenderfer
The preacher spoke in part as fol-
lows: -
There are no more precious
words in the Book of God than
those we find in the Gospel OF John
from the thirteenth to the seven
teenth chapter. inclusive. In them
we discover the very heart Of the
Master as He yearned over the men
whom He had taught and trained
and commissioned to preach His
Gospel His earthly ministry was
nearly complete. He was about 10
leave them in the flesh. He wanted
them to enjoy to the full the fe-
licity that God had made possible to
the human soul. Hence His teach
ing.
Joy ONef ncPcnsancNs
God wants us all to have the
same joy that was possible to the
Apostles. The whole Bible was
given us so that we might know the
things that make for our peace and
joy in time and throughout all
eternity. God has no pleasure in
the death of the wicked. There is
Joy in heaven over one sinner that
repenteth.
Joy is a state Of mind and heart
Il is Independent of outward condi-
tions. A man may be old and poor
and sick and yet be joyful. He
may be young Fnd rich and in the
best of health and yet have no real
joy and peace. A mans joy comes
from what he is; not from what he
has. This truth is strongly empha-
sized by the Master. who declares
that a mans life consistent not in
the abundance Of the things which
he possesseth.
"Fulness of joy comes in the first
place from salvation. The repent
ant psalmist prayed that God would
restore unto him the joy Of saliva
ton. This he had lost through his
sin. Not until the human soul rea
lizes its sinful nature and enters
upon its full redemption through
Christ can there be joy in the heart
the peace that passeth all un-
derstanding.
SncrfAeiaI Service
Again. the fulness of Joy comes
from sacrifcial service. Salvation
means service. Loving surrender
to the will of God in'the ordinary
and extraordinary duties OF life
make possible our joy. There can
be and there is no joy to the drone.
The sleep of the laboring man is
sweet This is true of the earnest
worker in Iife's vineyard. but it is
Christ. Many professed followers OF
Jesus fail of the joy that might be
theirs because they do not enter
willingly upon the duties of their
life.
TT is said by the writer to the
Hebrews that Jesus for the joy set
before Him endured the Cross. de-
spising the shame. What was this
joy? 1t was the joy of completing
the plan of salvation and of becom-
ing the worlds Savior.
There is set before each one of
us the joy of a full salvation and
the joy Of real service. II we are
not joyful there is s)me reason in
our own lives for this lack. There
is sin somewhere. The Master has
made 1t very plain that there is joy
for all who trust and obey"