through him only as long as he gave attention to the necessity of living a godly life. There came a time, however, when sin came into his life. We will take this piece of steel marked “sin” and place it across the magnet to remind us of the sin of Samson. The magnet is no longer strong. It will not lift the smallest piece of steel. When sin en tered Samson’s life, he was no longer strong as before. His enemies came and took him, blinded him and made him their slave. Just as this magnet is now powerless to lift as it once did, so Samson was powerless to do the great things he had once done. What was true of Samson is true of Christian people today. As long as they ask and trust their Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to keep sin out of their lives, they can do great things. But when sin is allowed to enter, they become weak and powerless. Jesus Christ wants us to work for Him, and to do so we must let Him keep our lives free from sin and filled with His power. END.
LESSON: Did you know that magnets are like people? When a piece of steel is magnetized, it is much stronger than it was before. Notice how this strong magnet can lift these large
water up with their hands, were to be kept in the army and those who knelt down to drink were refused. God uses the watchful, not the care less people, in His army. We will use this magnet in making this test. (Put the magnet on its side and stand the matches on one prong, pointing the head up toward the other prong.) See, only three stand and the others go down. These three matches remind me of the 300 men who stood as they drank that day and were chosen to be soldiers in Gideon’s army. We should remember that in choosing people today, God wants those who will be brave and watchful at all times. o f S a m s o n OBJECTS: A magnet, a piece of steel large enough to cover both poles of the magnet and to overlap a little on the sides and ends, and several small er pieces of iron or steel. (Paint the large piece of steel black and on the edge print the word “sin.”) Dec. 30, 1956 T h e S i n
pieces of steel and iron. This magnet reminds me of Samson. He had more than natural strength. The enemies of the Israelites on various occasions tried to capture him but he was too strong for them. He broke their ropes with ease. The reason was that he had more than human strength. His great strength came from God. And Sam son, had he been wise, would have realized that God could work in and
Your Most Splendid Christmas
O nly God. would have thought of Christmas! Christmas is uninventable! No man would ever think to do such a phenomenal thing in such an obscure way. The greatest single event in human history—(paling into oblivion the rise and fall of empires . . . holding eternal import)—ushered in with embarrassing simplicity: Stable—manger—low ing oxen—shepherds. It certainly was not a fabrication of man. Man can’t do big things in little ways. He is far more inclined to puff up little things . . . overdo them— build them up out of all proportion to their worth. This is evident in what man tries to make of Christ mas. He can’t leave this Divine event alone in its quiet, unassuming eloquence. He must dress it u p - deck it out with tinsel—lights—ribbon—ornaments— frills . . . And more often than not the central fact of Christmas is lost in the trappings! This is the danger we all face at Christmas time. It seems almost to get worse year by year. We find ourselves under the weight of the paraphernalia man has invented to clutter up the birthday of the Saviour. We get victimized by it . . . even in the church. Catch ourselves doing everything—not in terms of honoring Christ—hut in terms of customs—pressure of advertising propaganda . . . and often out of sheer selfishness and pride. Gifts and cards are given . . . not for the sake of
the giving but in order to escape the humiliation one feels when he receives from one to whom he gives nothing. What a farce! Yet how easily we succumb! The way out of this caricature of Christmas is not a negative one! It’s not a matter of fighting the status quo. It is a matter of giving Christ His proper place in Christmas! When He is exalted these trap pings melt into insignificance. His glory transcends everything else! Try this emphasis this year in heart and home! These other things will be a part of Christmas to be sure . . . hut don’t allow them to crowd out Christ from the center of your celebration! Make room for Him this Christmas! Even though there was no room for Him when He came the first time. Don’t relegate Christ to a stable . . . let your heart be His throne room. Give Him the place of honor at your business and family functions. Adore Him! Worship Him! This can be your rhost splendid Christmas ever— when you make room for Christ in your plans. He will transform everything about Christmas. Make it scintillate and glow with His radiance! Let Christ be central! “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). — Richard C. Halverson Perspective
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DECEMBER 1956
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