| The Joy of Service |
Chapter 24 |
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But a Christian must be a Christian all the days. It is not enough to be in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day – we must be in the Spirit on the other days too. We are to keep ourselves in the love of God all the week. Holiness does not consist merely in devout feelings toward God, and reverent worship in God’s house. We are to be Christian in our school life, in our business, in our amusements, in our friendships. We are to carry out the principles of Christianity in our associations with the world. Our hands are God’s, and can be used fitly only in doing God’s work on any day. Our feet are God’s, and may be employed only in walking in good ways, the ways of the Divine commandments, whether it be Sunday or Monday. Our lips are God’s, and should speak only words that honour God, and do good, whether it be in religious conversation, or in the talk of the parlour or the place of business.
It is our week day life, under the stress and strain of temptation, far more than our Sunday life, under the gentle warmth of favouring conditions that really tests our religion. Not how well we sing and pray, nor how devoutly we worship in church; but how well we live out in the stress of affairs, how loyally we do God’s will, how faithfully we carry out the principles of our religion in our conduct – these are the things that tell what manner of Christians we are.
The influence of the Sabbath, like a precious perfume, should pervade all the days of the week. Its spirit of holiness and reverence should flow down into all the paths of the other days. Its voices of hope and joy should become inspirations in all our cares and toils in the outside world. Its teaching should be the guide of hand and foot in the midst of all trial and temptation. Its words of comfort should be as lamps shining in the sick room and in the chambers of sorrow. Its visions of spiritual beauty should be translated into reality in conduct, disposition, and character.
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