ceived at His first coming. This recep tion forms a powerful, skillful com mentary on human character. Herod, the king, and his government took the news of Jesus’ birth with jealousy and ill-concealed hatred. Immediately, be cause of the threats upon their graft- ridden rule, they conspired to do away with the newly-born King. The scribes, Pharisees, and religious leaders of the day received the informa tion with a cold, academic aloofness. Without difficulty, they found the pre-: cise foretelling Scripture, ' but their hearts had no interest in a possible new King, even God’s own King! Their con cern embraced only the continuing sta bility .of their own selfish leadership among the people. The people of Jerusalem were troubled by the arrival of the embassage, pos sibly thinking such might mean war or strife with neighboring kingdoms, but apparently the interest was short-lived, speedily giving way to mere indifference after a few years. The Bethlehem innkeeper seemed con cerned for the comfort of his more im portant guests. For the One of whom it was prophesied of old that He was to be born in David’s city, there was but little room grudgingly given. Such is the human mosaic of the reception of Christ! But there is a brighter side! There were a few humble shepherds, appar ently not wealthy and surely unedu cated, within whose breasts beat sincere hearts. These plain men welcomed the King with deep humility and great won der, thanking God for His goodness and mercy. There were also Wise Men who mani fested their interest by a long journey to bring rich gifts and to worship low before the Saviour King. It is passing strange that the same pattern of human behavior manifests it self in all centuries. The sons of men are either carelessly indifferent, academ ically calloused, or insanely jealous of the Lord Jesus Christ. But, thank God, there are a few simple folk, like the shepherds, who receive the good news of God with gladness, and joyfully jour ney into the presence of God’s Son. Thank God there are some Wise Men who recognize true and lasting values, and, leaving less important pursuits, they humbly journey to bring gifts to the King of kings. The holiday season is now upon us, and again the wheels of commercialism will grind out bells and baubles for the Christmas trade. There will be frantic buying of gifts and lavish feasting. But in this season one thing alone is neces sary, which is that into the human heart there might come a true reception of God’s greatest Gift. Eternal destiny as well as present peace of mind depend wholly upon the right reception of this Gift. May God give us grace to be hum ble people whose hearts are sincere, and. whose minds are heavenly wise, as we again this year worship at the manger throne. T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
Dr. Talbot Resigns T HE resignation of Dr. Louis T. Tal bot as pastor of the Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles, to take effect January 1, 1949, has been accepted by the church with deepest regret. Dr. Tal bot concludes 17 years of faithful minis try having come to the Church of the Open Door in January of 1932, from the Philpott Tabernacle in Hamilton, On tario, Canada. Born in Australia and arriving in this country, at the age of twenty, he gradu ated from Moody Bible Institute in 1912. He assumed his first • pastorate at a small church in Paris, Texas, and from there went on to Oak Park, ,Illinois, Keokuk, Iowa, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Hamilton, Ontario. Dr. Talbot came to the Church of the Open Door at a time of great need. The depression was a great burden both to the Church and the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. The indebtedness was great and faith was small, but Dr. Talbot proved to be God’s man for this place. Through his instrumentality over a period of a seventeen-year pastorate, God wrought a mighty work. Today, the large church building with auditorium and school classrooms, as well as the two thirteen- story dormitory buildings in the heart of downtown Los Angeles are absolutely free of all indebtedness. The church membership, which in 1932 was 1200, is now 3500. Since 1939, Dr. Talbot has also held the Presidency of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles whose student body has more than doubled over the years and now exceeds 900 in the day school alone. Dr. Talbot leaves the Church of the Open Door in order to devote his entire time to the Bible Institute of Los An geles. He will continue with his radio ministry which is heard locally in South ern California, and also over the Pacific Coast network?. The call to succeed Dr. Talbot as pas tor of the Church of the Open Door was extended to Dr. J. Vernon McGee, pastor of the Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, and for the past three years a member of the faculty of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Dr. McGee will take up his new duties on January 1, 1949. Members and friends of these twin institutions are earnestly requested to bear these men up in pray- Page Four
er, asking God for sufficient strength and wisdom to lead both Church and Institute into a greater degree of use fulness under God than ever before. As President of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Dr. Talbot will continue as editor-in-chief of THE KING’S BUSI NESS. — W.W.O., Associate Ed. ☆ New Flag In Los Angeles P ERHAPS the most significant fact in 19 centuries, prophetically speak ing, occurred with dramatic suddenness a few months ago as representatives of the Jewish race proclaimed a new na tion under an old name and in an ancient land. Today in Los Angeles a new flag flies! It flutters from the brand-new Israeli consulate office in downtown Los Ange les. This office of the Israeli government will be headed by Reuven Dafni who will have charge of Israel’s affairs in the seven western states. Five Jewish youths from the University of California at Los Angeles officially presented the consulate with a new blue and white Israeli flag. Reception ceremonies were held at which time more than 12,000 persons, including consular corps from eleven other nations, attended. Bible students will do well to ponder prayerfully the tremendous prophetic implications of the re-emergence of Is rael as a nation. The Jew has always been God’s time clock which, although silent for 19 centuries, has once more begun to tick loudly enough for every one to hear. Many of God’s wisest saints feel that the hour of the return of Christ will soon strike. ☆ His Reception? The Gospel by John does not give a detailed account of the birth of Christ. This is quite in line with the avowed purpose of this Gospel as set forth in John 20:31. The entire story of the coming of Christ and His treatment at the hands of - man is sorrowfully con densed in the statement, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” However, both Matthew and Luke were guided by the Holy Spirit to write the full story of how Christ was re
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter