fuom heaven
m a n Q e R
b y Robert G . L ee, D .D .
npHESE shepherds —poor, honest, industrious—were not leaders of armies, not expounders of philosophies, not advocates of political theories, not bankers counting > piles of money—rather, just throwers of stones to keep the wolves away, watchers of their flocks. To these who were dutifully diligent in their common tasks, the good news was first announced. To the shepherds the angel of the Lord said, “ Fear not . . . For unto you is born . . . a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10, 11). To these same shepherds a multitude from the heavenly choir sang, “ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). The information God gave, the shepherds wisely put into action immediately. Not the delay of a week, nor a day, nor an hour, nor a minute. The Saviour of men bom in the city of David? “ Let us go and see Him now.” A Not when a more convenient time presents itself. Not after we go home and talk it over with our families. But NOW. Not after we visit again the sheep markets. But NOW. Not when we make sure no wolves will attack our sheep. But NOW. Not when we make sure no money will be lost. But NOW. The wise men made the same improvement of their information. In a distant country . they saw His star and followed its direction, defiant of all distances, discouraged by no vast expanse, downcast by no far reach of miles. “ They came with haste.” To inquire after Jesus, to see Jesus, to serve Jesus, to follow Jesus is our first business— the one thing most important ly needful. ► *
Christ was holy, undefiled, separate from sinners, fit to become sin for us because He knew no sin. Jesus is God manifest in the flesh. Having glory with God before the world began, loved by the Father before the foundation of the world. Jesus Christ was virgin bom. When Mary, over-shadowed by the power of the highest, went down into the mysterious land of motherhood, she came back holding in her arms the eternal Son of God! Christ’s virgin birth, on which rests the credibility of the Scriptures and the sinlessness of Jesus, is the Alpha of our Christian faith. Accept that, and all else rightly follows. What was the grand design of the Saviour’s birth? The redemption, by His death, of fallen, guilty, help less man. That was why He came. “God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law” (Galatians 4:4, 5). He was named Jesus, because He came to “ save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). There is something sublime and delightful in the SAVIOUR. As the shepherds and the wise men on the first Christ mas Day made haste to come unto the Saviour, will you not hasten to the cross and see there the Christ who died for you? “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). This is the story of Christmas: “ 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).
DECEMBER, 1960
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