| The Joy of Service |
Chapter 16 |
Page 7 |
We readily think of many who are in circumstances of trial. Here is a young man who is making perilous associations, and is danger of being dragged down to ruin. Here is a young woman who has been caught in the whirl of society, and is being carried away from the beautiful simplicity of her early days. Here is a man who has met a terrible bereavement, and is reeling under the staggering blow. Here is one who has suffered a financial loss, and is left, stripped bare and empty handed, to start anew in life. Here is one who has fallen unawares, into sin, and lies in the dust of despair. Then there are those who are prosperous, whose very prosperity is their peril. There are those who, by a new, sweet, human friendship, which fills and satisfies their heart, are in danger of being drawn away from Christ. There are those who are just beginning the Christian life, and who, in their inexperience, need most careful guidance in the new and unaccustomed paths. There are broken families – father or mother gone, or both – where there is infinite need of God’s help.
We have a duty toward all of these. We do but one part of our duty as Christians when we live faithfully, consistently, and uprightly. It is not enough for us to be good ourselves; we must reach out our hand to serve. The strong must help the weak. We must assist others by wholesome sympathy, by cheerful encouragement, by sharing our life with them, by all manner of self forgetful ministry. But we should never cease to help them also by prayer. We know not what blessings from God we can call down upon them by loving, importunate intercession.
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