CHRISTMAS-“God
Us”
By DR. GLENN O'NEAL
fied by the angels at His birth, but also by Christ Himself (John 8:23). Reading down further He told them, "Ye do the deeds of your Father (vs. 41). Jesus pointed out, "If God were your Father, you would love Me because I have come from God; He sent Me." As we go through the rest of this chap ter, Jesus points out the faith of Abraham looking forward to Mes siah's coming, and that, before the patriarch ever existed, Christ was in the heavenlies. As we consider Christ's life we see how He backed it up by the way in which He lived. Through His divine power He exhibited that He was the Redeemer. In John 9 we see how He healed the blind man. Then, there was an interrup tion (vs. 35-38) when again the un believers cast the blind man out of the synagogue. Encountering this poor fellow the Lord told him, "Thou hast both seen Him and it is He who talketh with thee." The blind man testified without hesita tion, "Lord, I believe." Notice how
As we consider the holiday sea son each of us wants to keep in proper perspective the celebration of Christ's birthday. Many influ ences all about seek to keep us from such an emphasis. There is a constant search for just the right gift for a friend who has everything already. Last year's card list is re fined for mailing. Recipes are stud ied for parties and family gather ings. Too often, Santa Claus has taken the place Christ should right ly receive. The church is usually the first to suffer. People are too busy to go, and with so many costs, giving to the church drops consid erably. Have you ever thought that Christmas means Cod manifesting Himself to us? Man has a desire to know God. He may be totally un aware of this basic need. John 1:18 declares, "No man hath seen God at anytime." That God was with us at the birth of Christ is attested to by the whole account of His com ing to this earth as the Babe of Bethlehem. This was not only veri
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