530
December 1932
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
This is a true story, children, the story of His birthday. Now isn’t it strange that, at Christmas time, folk expect presents to be given them? Whose birthday is it? The.birth day o f the Lord Jesus Christ. Then who should receive the presents? Why, the Lord Jesus, o f course! And now you are saying, “What can I give H im?” But before you can give to Him, dear children, you must receive from Him His gift o f salvation. You must receive Him as your Saviour, and let Him come into your heart. “ 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). When you have received the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, you may then give to Him. There are three things you can give Him at the Christmas time—on His birth day—that will bring joy to His heart: First, you may give yourself, to live every day to please Him. Second, you may give Him your service, for even a child can do things for Him in the home, at school, or in the Sunday-school. And third, you may give Him all that you have, your time, your money, and the many things He has blessed you with, all to be used and spent in a way that will please Him. Yes, dear children, let us not forget Him on His birthday! Search the Scriptures Who was king at the time the Lord Jesus was born? (Matt. 2:1) In which city was the Lord Jesus born? (Lk. 2:4) Whose city was this? (Lk. 2:4) Why? (1 Sam. 16:4, 12) Who once gleaned in the fields near this city? (Ruth 2:2) Why did Mary and Joseph go up to this city? (Lk. 2:1) From where did they travel? (Lk. 2:4) What sign was promised the shepherds? (Lk. 2:12) How were the wise men led? (Matt.2:2) What recorded events took place between the birth o f the Lord Jesus and the visit o f the wise men? (Lk. 2:21, 24, 25-38) Give two Old Testament prophecies con cerning the birth o f Christ (Isa. 7:14: 9:6) What does Christmas mean to you? No Room for Jesus Was there no room in Bethlehem, For Jesus at the inn? No room for Jesus when He came To save a world from sin? No room for Jesus in our homes, , Or round our board, when He Above all other friends beside, ■ An honor’d guest should be? “ No room for Jesus” ? It shall not be! O come, dear Saviour, abide with me. No room for Jesus in our heart's? Oh, sad and fearful thought! Room for all else but His dear love, Who our redemption bought. Dear little child, wilt thou not try The Saviour’s lamb to be? So when He calls thee up on high, He will make room for thee. — S elected .
His Birthday B y E thel L ee
The Gift Without the Giver Louise was a poor little rich girl. She lived in a beautiful big house on Hill Crest Drive, the only little girl to play in the spacious nursery on the top floor. There were so many things in this big house— lovely things—but so few people to say a kind word or give a bit o f love! Often Louise had crept down into the laundry on Tuesdays when colored Annie came to iron, and as she ironed, Louise would listen with delight to all that Annie told her of her little boys and girls at home. How wonderful it would be to play as they played and be loved as they were beloved by Annie! It was Annie, too, who told Louise the story o f that first Christ mas Day when the Lord Jesus was born a Babe in Bethlehem’s manger. Oh, yes, Louise had a mother—such a beautiful mother, too — but she never seemed to have time for Louise. And then Christmas time came, and as always, Louise had written out a long list o f things she wanted most, and had given them to nurse Mary. Christmas morning came, and like all the Christmases that she could remember, Louise hurried into the nursery which was now her playroom. What a transforma tion ! Over night, it had all been changed! As with fairy-like quickness, the windows and walls were festooned with holly and crepe paper. Nurse Mary was really re sponsible. In the middle of the room stood the pretty tree with its many col ored lights, and round about the tree were all the lovely toys she had asked for. It was all so beautiful! But somehow, there wasn’t much fun untying pretty packages by oneself. If mother and daddy would only come in to share it all with her! Finally to Mary Ann, the new doll, she poured out her heart and just had to shed a few tears. It was just then that her beautiful mother came in. “Why, Louise dear, what is the matter ?” she said, when she saw the tears and the sad little eyes. “Didn’t you get everything you asked fo r?” “Yes, Mother,” Louise said between sobs, “all—but—j ust— one—thing.” “ One thing? Whatever is that, dear? Tell me and you shall have it if I can get it for you.” “ Oh, Mother,” she said, and by now she was very close, “ the presents were lovely—but I’d rather—have you, Mother, than anything else in the whole world.” There was quiet in 'the nursery as the mother gathered Louise tightly in her arms —arms that she had hardly realized before were longing for just such a love bundle. “You shall have that, Louise dear—let me go and bring Daddy that we may all keep Christmas afternoon together and share our love and joy on this blessed day.”
How many o f you dear children have had a birthday thisyear? I can hear all of you saying, “I have,” and, “ I have.” Birth days are such nice days, aren’t they ? When one has a birthday, mother makes a cake and puts as many candles on it as you are years old. And presents—most o f you re ceive presents on your birthday, do you not? Now this is the month o f December— and what special day does this month bring? “ Christmas Day,” you are saying. Whose birthday do we keep on Christmas Day? Yes, the earthly birthday of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Would you like to hear the story o f His birthday? Many years ago, God wanted to send His Son into the world to be the Saviour, so He told the angel Gabriel to go to a village named Nazareth and tell a young Jewish woman that God had chosen her to be the mother of His Son. The name o f the woman was Mary. Now Mary was en gaged to be married to a man named Jo seph, the carpenter o f Nazareth. When the angel Gabriel told Mary God’s message, Mary said, “ Behold the handmaid of the L ord ; be it unto me according to thy word” ; that is, “ I am the servant o f the Lord, to do His will. Let it be to me as you have said.” Some time after Gabriel’s visit to Mary, Joseph had a dream. In his dream, the angel o f the Lord appeared to him and said, “Joseph, I have come to tell you that Mary, the young woman whom you are to marry, will have a Son sent by the Lord God. You shall call His name ‘Jesus,’ which means - Salvation, because He shall save His people from their sins.” Soon after Joseph and Mary were mar ried in Nazareth, a command went forth from the Emperor Augustus Caesar, through all the lands o f the Roman Em pire, for all the people to go to the cities and towns from which their families had come, and there to have their names writ ten down upon a list. As both Mary and Joseph had come from the family of David the king, they went together from Naza reth to Bethlehem. When Joseph and Mary! arrived in the city o f Bethlehem, they found the city full o f people who, like themselves, had come to have their names written upon the list. They went to the inn, but there was no room there, so Joseph had to lead the donkey to a cave stable where there was some straw, we hope, on which Mary could lie, as she was tired with the long journey. Here the little Baby was born and was laid in a manger where the cattle were fed. Here, too, the shepherds came—the shep herds who had heard the glad news from the angels. You may read that part o f the story for yourselves in the second chapter o f Luke, verses 8 to 20.
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