The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-02-23

A weekly paper
with large circulation asked Its
readers to answer this question:
What has been the greatest JOY IN
your llfe?' The answers were many
and varied. One said: 1.-The awaken
ing from long desperate illness.
Another: my return home after an
exile" A third: MY chief JOY Is
that of watching the unfolding life
of my child" Others found their
greatest JOY i'm reading, in writing. In
passing successfully through tests and
examinations, in parental or filial af-
lection, In deeds of helpfulness, In the
love Of the beautiful, and SO on.
Many of the answers showed that
the greatest joys were consigned to
the attics whose windows opened to-
wards heaven. That is, they were re-
ligous joys, joys Of the spirit I'm fell
lowship with God. Here is one: IL
know of no joy i'm all my life to be
compared with the joy | had when
trusted Jesus Christ with my souls
salvation for time and eternity" Here
is another: MY wholehearted sur
render To God on Il certain Sunday
afternoon, and the consequences Their
TO, have brought 10 me the greatest
joy and comfort | know, through the
experimental proof of Christ's own
words, If the Son shall make you free,
ye shall be free indeed A third
said: "rhe greatest joy in my life
came when ! realized that | was
part OF Gods great plan of redemp-
ton, and not mere atom Of creation
with no meaning in my existence, and
no goal in view"
What was the greatest JOY in the
life of the writer of our text? Was it
at the moment when the Lord Jesus
met him on the Damascus way? Was
II when "there fell from his eyes as
it had been scales" and the darkness
disappeared, and the true light shone
into his soul? Was it in the soitudes
Of Arabia, or when he was caught up
to the third heaven, or when he was
in the Philippian Jail at the time of
| the earthquake, and sang praises unto
God?
Whatever spiritual delight these
separate experiences might have
brought to him we do not know. The
Apostle never presents them rs ex-
perences to be copied after. Indeed,
he seldom refers to them. For him,
the greatest joy in life was the life
of JOY. Rejoice in the Lord always"
This was the reflection of his inner
most being. The call of his life, and
the call OF the text is the constant
abiding JOY which goes with one
through the years, giving the necessary
comfort and strength for all occasions
and causing one TO triumph over the
adverse forces of sin, Satan and cir
cumstances
This is emphasized In the epstle
from which the text Is taken. At
the time of writing, he was a prisoner
in Rome. This meant broken plans,
unfulfilled purposes, unrealized ex-
pectations, but plans and purposes had
been made subject to revision. Paul
believed that events were controlled
not by blind forces or by the reign Of
law. but rather by n personal and low
ing Law-Giver, who was over ALL and I'm
| III anu llIpuSH sil. IlNllNNf llf NbhlN
rejoice even though his itinerary had
been disrupted and change neces-
STATED.
The promotion of work of the Lord
was more to him than personal in
terests or personal convenience. This
is an important factor in u joyous
Christian life.
Another possibly distressing feature
of his Imprisonment was the loss of his
| immediate oversight, and the con-
sequent lack of development, in the
churches that he had founded and
fostered, but over against this he per-
ceived the power of God operating.
for many OF the brethren, enthused
and encouraged by the example Of his
falthfulness, were emboldened to speak
the Word without fear, and even
though their testimony was imperfect
Christ was preached, and in that
the apostle rejoiced.
The Joy of his heart found express
| sion I'm prayer, for, he writes: III thank
my God upon every remembrance OF
you. always I'm every prayer of mine,
making request with Joy for your
fellowship in the Gospel" Ills JOY
was increased because OF the fellowship
OF service with him into which his
converts were brought. They were
one with him now, not only as par
takers of the divine life IN Christ but
as partners In the promotion OF the
Gospel. Thus did God make all things
work together for good in the ex-
nerience of His servant.
LIES greatest JOY is found in the
onstant adjustment to the providence.
the power and the purpose of God II
springs from that full persuasion OF
heart that God is In all things, through
all things, and over all things. in
this persuasion, one can rejoice I'm
the Lord aIwavsu