ious stocking, the traditional stock ing, the material stocking, only to find them empty? God has given you His Son. By accepting Him through faith He will come into us and live with us to provide for us a life that nothing in this world can ever give or ever take away. Our Saviour promised, "I am come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundant ly." Are you still living in "the night before Christmas"? God wants to show you that the dawn of His grace is here. See the "stock ing" of love and grace with your name written on it. Receive it as His free gift. Dr. Mitchell is Pastor of Bethany Bible Church in Phoenix, Arizona. the arrival of old "Saint Nick." Suddenly there was the sound of bells with a knock at the door. There he would stand before us with his snow-white beard. After finding out if all had been good, he would distribute the long- awaited gifts. That was all I knew of Christmas, founded upon a fic tion that had no reality. As the years rapidly passed, I remember days of awful depression when our home was bare at Christmas with no packages under the tree. My world had crushed in on me. (So it is with those who seek abiding joy in the things of this world.) Shortly after, an older brother found Christ. Like Andrew of old, he immediately went to find me, pointing out such verses as John 1:12; 3:16; 5:24; Revelation 3:20 and others. I fell to my knees in Page 41
that "stocking," with the added words of John 3:16, "For Cod so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not per ish, but have everlasting life." Perhaps some people today would desire in their "stockings" social prestige, psychology, achievement, fame, money, health or a variety of other things. Cod alone can completely satisfy our needs and longings. God has pro vided for each of us through Christ, made like man, a "stocking" with our name on it. In Jesus Christ the need of our soul can be met. What does Christmas mean to you? Have you gone to those stockings hung by the chimney with care, the relig By REV. KEN PETERSON Christmas means to me the real ization of Paul's testimony, "Thanks be unto Cod for his unspeakable gift" (II Corinthians 9:15). This won derful treasure is God's supreme gift to the world. It is a mystery which has been hidden from eter nity. Who is adequate, with his human limitations, to speak of it fully? No power nor language on the earth can ever give proper ex pression to what it really means. As a boy I grew up in a typical Swedish home, recalling from ear liest days the excitement of Christ mas festivities. The main event it seemed to me was the Christmas Eve dinner. Every imaginable sav ory food was available. After the meal the children were ushered into the living room where we would sit breathlessly waiting for
His Unspeakable Gift
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