| The Joy of Service |
Chapter 17 |
Page 5 |
Another of the bushels which some Christians put over their lamps is the fretful, complaining habit. Light is clear and white. Christian life in its Divine beauty is all brightness. Two words, peace and joy, express its true spirit. Peace is quietness, calmness, restfulness, contentment in any circumstances. The light of peace should shine in ever Christian life. Then, joy is distinctive of the Christian, – not the joy of this world, which depends on worldly conditions, and ebbs and flows with the tides of circumstances; but the joy of Christ, which the world cannot give and cannot take away.
Peace and joy are essential characteristics of the light that should shine from every Christian’s lamp. But how many people cover this white, pure light with the habit of discontent and complaining! How many of us have allowed the spirit of worry to creep into our life! How many of us permit ourselves to murmur, and to find fault with almost everything in our lot! How many of us live in a perpetual fever of discontent! Such habits dim the shining of the light that should ray out from our life. Fretfulness spoils spiritual beauty. A habit of anxiety hides the light of peace and joy. If only we would strip off these unfit coverings, and let the light of Christ in us shine out, it would add tenfold to our influence and power as Christians. Even in life’s sorest trials and deepest griefs the light of the lamp burning within should shine out undimmed. Indeed, in sorrow the inner light should be even clearer than in joy.
“Grief is a tattered tent
Where through God’s light doth shine;
Who glances up at every rent
May catch a ray Divine.”
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