God’s gift to the world was despised and rejected 2.000 years ago and in the life of every person who has rejected Him since that time there has proved to be a fatal defectiveness. Only by accepting the free gift of eternal life through Christ, can we know the true meaning of Christmas and the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. Christ said, “ Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, 1 will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20), and “ Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). Begin this Christmas season with Christ, by accept ing the “ gift of God, [ which] is eternal life through Jesus Christ” (Romans 6:23). “ For by grace are ye sailed through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2 :8 ). — Billy Graham T h e I n c o m p a r a b l e C h r i s t More than nineteen hundred years ago there was a Man born contrary to the laws of life. This Man lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity. He did not travel extensively. Only once did He cross the boundary of the country in which He lived; that was during His exile in childhood. He possessed neither wealth nor influence. His rela tives were inconspicuous, and had neither training nor formal education. In infancy He startled a king; in childhood He puzzled doctors; in manhood He ruled the course of nature, walked upon the billows as if pavements, and hushed the sea to sleep. He healed the multitudes without medicine and made no charge for His service. He never wrote a book, and yet all the libraries of the country could not hold the books that have been written about Him. He never wrote a song, and yet He has furnished the theme for more songs than all the songwriters com bined. He never founded a college, but all the schools put together cannot boast of having as many students. He never marshalled an army, nor drafted a soldier, nor fired a gun; and yet no leader ever had more volunteers who have, under His orders, made more rebels stack arms and surrender without a shot fired. He never practiced medicine, and yet He has healed more broken hearts than all the doctors far and near. On the Lord’s day the wheels of commerce cease their turning and multitudes wend their way to wor shipping assemblies to pay homage and respect to Him. The names of the past proud statesmen of Greece and Rome have come and gone. The names of the past scientists, philosophers, and theologians have come and gone; but the name of this Man abounds more and more. Though time has spread nineteen hundred years between the people of this generation and the scene of
His crucifixion yet He still lives. Herod could not destroy Him, and the grave could not hold Him. He stands forth upon the highest pinnacle of heavenly glory, proclaimed of God, acknowledged by angels, adored by saints, and feared by devils, as the living, personal Christ, our Lord and Saviour. D a d d y ’ s C h r i s t m a s P r e s e n t The other day a little girl told me she was going to give her father a pair of slippers at Christmas. “Where will you get the money from?” I asked. She opened her eyes like saucers, and said, “ Why, Daddy will give me the money.” And just for half a minute I was silent as I thought the dear man would buy his own Christmas present. The father loved his little girl for the gift, although he had to pay for it. She had not anything in the world that he had not given her. You have not anything of your own to give to God. You can only give Him back what belongs to Him. G o d ’ s G i f t “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should, not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3.16). This world was poor and sinful, lost; Rut God was rich and full of grace And He looked down on Rethlehem town And said, “ Star, shine above this place; And angels, gird it round with song. Let heaven’s gate be left ajar, Till heaven’s glory lights the earth; Let wise men travel from afar “ With gold and frankincense and myrrh To see what gift I give this day To man . . . the very heart of Me Lies strangely cradled in the hay! “ For heaven is a lonely place Without the presence of M y Son; His empty ivory palaces Wait His return, M y Holy One. “ Rut if He be lifted up, Shall draw all men through Him, to Me; And He, when He has drained His cup, Shall bring salvation full and free “ To all who call upon His name.” Thanks be to God this Christmas Day, To God, who loved us so He gave His Son to take our sins away! “ Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (I I Corinthians 9 :15 ). — Martha Snell Nicholson
DECEMBER, 1959
19
Made with FlippingBook Online document