fromtheeditor’sdesk
The BE ST GIFTS
What Constitutes Thanksgiving A s our national Thanksgiving D ay approaches once more, we naturally turn our minds and hearts to the blessed privilege o f “ counting our blessings” as a nation and as individuals. In this year of our Lord 1955 we look out upon a country which resembles Canaan as it was described in the W ord of God as a “ good land, and a large, a land flowing with m ilk and honey.” This has been the record year for prosperity, plenty and production. The “ lean years” of the war days are well-nigh forgotten. Greater numbers of young people are enrolling in colleges than entered high schools 50 years ago. Everything educational, cultural and scientific is on the ascendency. W e are a complacent, well-fed people, and peace “ like a river” spreads over our lush green countryside. But in this quiet lull between international and political storms — fo r that they are coming is inevitable — are we using the free gifts of God as He intended, for His glory; and are we offering genuine thanks giving to God? Or are we guilty o f one of the first sins o f race as described in that biography of declension and depravity, Romans 1 — “ Neither were thankful” (v. 2 1 )? The psalmist asked in the long ago: “ What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward m e?” The inspired answer to this ques tion reveals how much higher are God’s ways than ours, and that His thoughts are not our thoughts. M an ’s w ay is to return favor with favor, to exchange gift for gift. Not so w ith the Lord. Paradoxical as it may seem, we show our gratitude to God for His bounties b y taking more of them! Read it in Psalm 116:13: “ I w ill take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.” In other words, we can give on ly b y taking! And what a gift! The cup of salvation includes all that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished in His incarnation, His death and His resurrection! If we receive this cup at His hands, we prove that we are grateful for everything, including the gift of existence itself. W e acknowledge that there is a life beyond this one; that “ a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” “ You can’t take it with you ” applies to every precious material blessing, convenience and comfort wh ich we have mentioned. Our Saviour and Lord is the on ly One we can take with us; and if we miss knowing H im we have missed all. On every hand our people are partaking of God’s goodness without one thought of gratitude to Him , without asking themselves w hy such favors should be bestowed. W e rejoice in the “ religious movements” of our times and thank God for the thousands reached through the special evangelistic campaigns and personal work but w e as Christians must re-double our efforts to “ w in for the Lamb that was slain the reward of His suffering” in the never-dying souls of men and women who breathe the air o f freedom and may, if they will, worship H im in spirit and in truth. Genuine thanksgiving includes m any elements: humility, as one rec ognizes that God’s gifts are unmerited and undeserved; worship, as one acknowledges that He is God and we are but the creatures of His hand; love, because He first loved us and gave His Son; and faith because we believe that “ every good and perfect gift” comes from a personal God who claims our heart’s devotion. Let us then fo r 1955 “ offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving” and “ give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his m ercy endureth for ever.”
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A re Bible Study A ids
For the teacher:
BROADMAN COMMENTS 1956
By E. F. Haight. A commentary on fifty-two interest-provoking, Bible- centered Uniform Sunday school les sons for 1956. A ll are based on sound scholarship, but are never technical. For each lesson there is a brief teaching outline, notes on the lesson passages, lesson interpretation, and emphasis on applying the lesson to life, and, this year, Broadman Comments contains a list of suggested visual aids for each lesson. $2.50 • • • • • For the Bible student: •
POINTS FOR EMPHASIS 1956
By Clifton J. Allen. Popular vest- pocket commentary on the Interna tional Uniform lessons for the Sunday school. Each lesson is presented in a concise and appealing form. Contains helpful, analytical, and explanatory notes. 75$ At all booksellers B R O A D M A N PRESS G. R. Welch Co.» Ltd.» Toronto
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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