429
December, 1933
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
unior KING’S BUSINESS . . . B y M a r t h a S. H ooker
Christmas Bells
body needed a Friend who would be a Saviour. There was only One who could meet this great need, and that One was God’s best—His only, beloved Son. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believ- eth in him should not perish, but have ever lasting life.” It is because o f God’s won drous gift of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus, that we give at this blessed season of the year. ( “ Freely ye have received, freely give.” When we receive our gifts at Christmas time, we must say “thank you” to those who gave them to us. Shall we not also re member to say “thank you” to God our Heavenly Father for the best Gift of all— the Lord Jesus? Long ago, one who had re ceived the Lord Jesus as his Saviour said “thank you” in this wonderful verse found in God’s W o rd : “ Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” .. Let us all say it from our hearts, too. Memory and Notebook Work Memorize Luke 2 :8-20. Illustrate this passage in your notebook. Also illustrate Matthew 2 :1-12. Bible Enigma C omposed of 54 L etters 42- 26-4-21-32-11-33. What did the wise men come to do? (Matt. 2:2 ). 13- 48-39. How many pigeons were o f fered as sacrifice? (Lk. 2:24). :: 14- 28-50-47-51. What king tried to kill Jesus? (Matt. 2:16). 52-23-12-38-15-30. In what did Jesus sleep? (Lk. 2:16). 18-40-3-10. Mary said, “He hath filled the hungry with ..................... things” (Lk. 1:53). 8-35-31-16-20-30-34-25. What did Herod do with the chief priests and scribes? (Matt. 2:4). 45-7-4-41. To whom was Jesus pre sented? (Lk. 2:22). 29-54-1-37-44. Who appeared to Joseph? (Matt. 2:13). 36-2-9-46-19-53-21. In what was Jesus wrapped? (Lk. 2:12). 36-17-22-5. Unto what was Gabriel sent? (Lk. 1:26). 21-6-49-50. What did the wise men see? (Matt. 2:10). 43- 24-27. In what was there no room? (Lk. 2:7). The whole is a Christmas message from heaven. To solve:, Beginning at 1, put down, in order, the number o f letters of which this enigma is composed. Look up the scripture reference given with each ques tion, and find the word in it which answers the question. Place each letter o f the word under the respective figures which precede the question. When the work is com plete, the letters may be separated into words. What is the sentence? [This puzzle is furnished by Mrs. E. W. Turner, Editor of Graphic Guide, pub lished by the Eye-Method Publishing Co., 1712 E. 20 St., Oakland, Calif. The Graphic Guide is a four-page leaflet con taining Bible puzzles for children.—Editor.]
And His mother sang and smiled; This is Christ, the Holy Child— Therefore bells at Christmas ring; Therefore little children sing.— S elected .
Why do bells at Christmas ring? Why do little children sing? Once a little Baby lay Cradled soft upon the hay,
BARBARA’S GIFT
I t w a s the Sunday before Christmas. Barbara had gone to Sunday-school, while Mother stayed home to care for wee baby John. Soon Mother heard the front gate bang and then she heard Barbara’s voice, as the little girl hurried into the house. “Mother, Mother, what can I give Him ?” cried Barbara. “What is it, dear?” asked Mother. It was plain to be seen that Barbara had run all the way home with this important question, and was quite out o f breath. “Why, Mother,” Barbara began between breaths, “Miss Flora told us this morning that Christmas was Jesus’ earthly birthday, and we should give Him something on His birthday. Mother, what can I give Him?” “ Sit down, Barbara,” said Mother, “ and let us talk about it together.” “You and Daddy gave me my lovely doll on my birthday—and I want to give Jesus something He will like very, very much,” began Barbara. “ I might open up my little bank and send my money to the mission aries.” She thought for a moment. “And you know, Mother,” she added hastily, “we’re giving poor Mrs. Beals a Christmas basket.” “Yes, dear, those are splendid things to do. But you want to do something for the Lord Jesus that will please Him most, don’t you? Let us look into God’s Book and see what He would have you give.” Then Mother began reading: “ ‘What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup o f salva tion’ ” (Psa. 116:12, 13). “There is your answer, Barbara! You must first take something from Him be fore any gift o f yours would please Him. He has a gift for you—listen to these verses: ‘The gift o f God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord’ (Rom. 6: 23), and, ‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God’ ” (Eph. 2 :8). Barbara’s face showed her eagerness to know more, so Mother told her, in lan guage she could understand, the story of Jesus and His love. She told o f the angel that announced His birth in Bethlehem’s manger so long ago; of the star that guided the wise men from afa r; o f His earthly life, which was climaxed by His death on the cross of Calvary. “ He suffered and died for you,” Bar bara’s mother continued, “in order that you might have the gift He longs to give, the gift of everlasting life.” “ Mother”-—it was a subdued Barbara now—“Mother, how may I take His gift?” “How did you receive the gift of the doll
that Daddy and I gave you for your birth day?” “Why, I just took it and said, ‘thank you,’ didn’t I?” “Yes, and that is the way you receive God’s gift of everlasting life. Thank Him for Jesus, who loved you and gave Him self for you.” Together Barbara and her mother knelt, and Barbara received God’s gift o f ever lasting life. Joy filled her heart and showed in her face as she rose from her knees. Mother kissed her tenderly and told her that in heaven the angels were rejoicing over this decision she had made. “ Now, Barbara, you are ready to make your gift to the Lord Jesus for His birth day,” she said. And Mother read the words o f Romans 12:1: “ ‘I beseech you therefore, brethren, . . . that ye [Bar bara] present’ your body.” “ It is you the Lord Jesus wants, Barbara.” Barbara gave herself to Him, as she prayed this little prayer that any boy and girl might pray, “Lord Jesus, I give myself to Thee today to be Thy living gift.” Then Mother sang softly part of a verse from an old song she had learned long ag o: “Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.” “ Oh, Mother, I’m so happy I” Barbara exclaimed. “I’m so glad I’ve made Him happy on His birthday. I can hardly wait to tell Daddy and Miss Flora.” ow t h a t Christmas is drawing near, we are all trying to think of the gifts we would like to give to those we love. And the thing we say most often these days is, “I wonder what Mother needs,” or, “I wonder what Sis ter needs.” We like to give to those we love the things they need, because then they will use them; and when they do, they will think of us and our love for them. I wonder what you would do if you found out that some one whom you loved very much needed the very best thing you had. I know—if you loved that one enough—you would give him your best, wouldn’t you? This is what our Heavenly Father did for us on that first Christmas day so long ago. The thing we needed most claimed the best that He had. He knew that every ^ w God ’s Unspeakable Gift B y M r s . A n n a L. D e n n is
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