INTRODUCTION:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

DISCUSSION:

I. WHAT IS VIRTUE?

 A.  Moral goodness.
 B. Excellencies.

II. WHO CAN OBTAIN VIRTUE?

 A. All who seek to follow God’s will.
  1. Matthew 7:7.
  2. Luke 11:9.
 B. Young as well as old.
  1. Ecclesiastes 12:1.
  2. Ephesians 6:1.

III. HOW CAN WE OBTAIN VIRTUE?

 A. Look to God’s word.
 B. Pray.

IV. WHY SHOULD WE STRIVE FOR VIRTUE?

 A. We will be pleasing to God.
 B. We will feel good about ourselves.
 
 
 
 

V. POEM - YOU TELL ON YOURSELF.

 You tell on yourself by the friends you seek.
   By the very manner in which you speak.
 By the way you employ your leisure time.
   By the use you make of dollar and dime.

 You tell on yourself by the things you wear.
   By the spirit in which your burdens bear.
 By the kind of things at which you laugh.
   By the records you play on the phonograph.

 You tell what you are by the way you walk.
   By the things of which you delight to talk.
 By the manner in which you bear defeat,
  By so simple a thing as how you eat.

 In books you choose from the well filled shelf.
   In these ways and more you tell on yourself.
 So there is really no particle of sense,
   In an effort to keep up false pretense.

     - Anonymous -

VI. IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE VIRTUOUS.
 
 A. Philippians 4:13.
 B. Strive to be the best wife, mother, daughter!

CONCLUSION:

As we strive to live a virtuous life, nothing will be too hard if we constantly keep our ultimate goal in mind--which is going to heaven.  This life is fairly short, the world will continue to try to remove God from our hearts, but we cannot allow this to happen.  Satan will continue to tempt us to serve ourselves, but we must not let him win.  Let’s stand firm, obey God’s commandments, and all go to heaven some day!
 
 

         Libby Nichols
         Route 1 Box 211
         Burlington, WV 26710