After Mary and Joseph, the ani mals in the stable were the first to see Him. Animals were re quired as sacrificial sin offerings. But now that the Baby had come, the sacrifice of animals was on the way out. If the animals could have talked, what would they have said to Him? What would the lamb have said to the Lamb of God who would be sacrificed on a cross? The animals . . . then the shep herds, tending their flocks out on the hillside. How often God comes to us when we least expect Him. “And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory o f the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid . . (Luke 2 :9). Nothing like this had ever hap pened to them before. In fact, nothing much ever happened to disturb the monotony of their lives. But this night was unlike all others. The sky radiated with a light not of this world. “And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is bom this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord . . . And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude o f the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men ” (Luke 2:9-14). Yes, the first Christmas carol ers! “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away . . . the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethle hem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste . . .” (Luke 2 :15, 16). I believe they came running! If
I had been a shepherd out on that lonely hillside that night, I’d have come running, wouldn’t you? They came to Him who would become the Great, Good Shepherd. They brought themselves. It is the only gift Christ wants. Can you picture them standing in hushed silence before God’s revelation in a manger? Too often we think of the shepherds only at the manger. We do not think about how they left Bethlehem. “And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the say ing which was told them concern ing this child . . .” (Luke 2:17). Their joy motivated them to action. Not only were they the first to be told! They were also the first to tell. Something hap pened to the shepherds. “And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shep herds . . .” (Luke 2:18). Has your Christian testimony caused people to wonder like that? In a very real sense, the witness of the shepherds that night made them the first missionaries. “ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God . . .” Anyone who really meets Jesus will do that! The Wise Men came to Bethle hem, too. “Behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Say ing, Where is He that is bom King o f the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and are come to worship Him” (Matt. 2:1, 2). Herod could not answer. The Bible tells us he was greatly trou bled. The very thought o f a poten tial rival to his realm brought suspicion. After hurried consul tation with the scribes, he waved his hand toward Bethlehem, urg ing the Wise Men on their way, and with pious pretense, said, “Go and search diligently for
INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF JEWISH MISSIONS, INC.
P.O. Box 1256 Atlanta, Georgia 30301 Combining evangelism and relief to Hebrew Christians and refugees in Europe, Israel, Asia, Africa, and South America, with a strong witness in America. 37 missionaries on all continents. Write for free copy of magazine. The Everlasting Nation. Jacob Gartenhaus, D.D., Pres., Robert G. Lee, D.D., Chairman Advisory Board. Since 1943, supporting leprosy work in four fields: Philippines, Africa, Bolivia and India. Treats leprosy patients, cares for chil dren of leprosy parents, rehabilitates former leprosy patients, preaches the Gospel and provides White Cross supplies. Write for FREE copies of GLOBAL MISSIONS and News- Prayer Letter. P.O. Box 8164 Portland, Oregon 97207 Establishing the Church among the Indians of rural Mexico by evangelism, Bible corres pondence courses, laymen's institutes, child evangelism, medical evangelism. Now work ing in six tribes. Needed — more mission aries: prayer partners to form prayer bands. Write for information and magazine 6018 Droxel Road, Philadelphia, Pa. 19131 INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN LEPROSY MISSION MEXICAN INDIAN MISSION, INC. Dr. John T. Dale, Director MILLION TESTAMENTS CAMPAIGN, INC. Mrs. George T . B. Davis, Director Jews being saved in many lands through our Prophecy New Testaments in many lan guages. Our Hebrew Testaments reaching many Jews in the land of Israel. You can help by your prayers and gifts. News Bul letin and Prayer Card free upon reQuest. 1505 Race Street Philadelphia, Pa. 19102 MISSIONARY AVIATION FELLOWSHIP “A Servant of Mission»” Providing highways in the sky and bush radio-telephone service for your missionaries in the rural and forward areas of the mis sion field. Write for: Informative literature Challenging sound-color films Gift annuity information Box 2828, Fullerton, California 92633 THE MISSIONARY DENTIST, INC. Box.7002, Seattle, Washington 98133 A unique worldwide evangelistic ministry It meets the physical and spiritual needs of the nationals, and missionaries too, by providing modern dental care and a sound Bible teaching ministry from the heart of the jungles to populated cities through Dental Evangelism Team programs. Films and literature available. The Missionary Literature Foundation pro vides evangelical missionaries with devo tional literature for their personal and family use. It also provides contacts useful in meeting the emergency needs of mission aries returned from the fields. MISSIONARY LITERATURE FOUNDATION Box 374 Burbank, Calif. 91503 PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE TO EVANGELICAL MISSIONARIES NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY New York, N.Y. 10017 A UNIQUE MISSIONARY MINISTRY Rev. Youngve R. Kindberg, General Secretary An evangelical missionary organization, dis tributing the Scriptures in over 70 languages about the harbor and within the City of New York. Divisions: Marine, Immigration, For eign, Jewish, Negro, Hotels, Hospitals, Blind, Scripture texts in subways. New York Mission to the Jews Since 1895 this Mission, founded by Rev. and Mrs. Bernhard Angel, has proclaimed the Gospel to the Jews of New York’s fabled East Side. There are more Jews in metropoli tan New York, than in the State of Israel. MINISTRIES: Gospel services; open-air meet ings; hospital and home visitation; Scripture distribution. You can help by prayer and gift. 149 Ave. B, New York, N.Y. 10009. 5 East 48th Street
DECEMBER, 1968
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