December, 1933
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
4M
J THE KING’STABLE
■ ro u n
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B [The comments on this page, with the exception o f the Christmas meditation, are furnished by Dr. W. E. Edmonds, pas tor of. the First Presbyterian Church o f Glendale, Calif., and a member o f the Board o f Directors o f the Bible Institute o f Los Angeles. To many, not only on the Pacific Coast where he is well known, but also throughout the United States, he is “a brother beloved” for his fidelity to the truth as it is in Christ Jesus .— E ditor .] From Bethlehem to Calvary 1 ethlehem is not far from Calvary. Today there is a burst o f light on Judaea’s plains, a heavenly multitude bearing glad tidings, an adoring audience o f shepherd folk
“ Prepared . . . td Sound” t is said of the seven angels which had the seven trum pets, that they “ prepared themselves to sound” (Rev. 8 :6 ). In like manner, the sounding forth o f the gospel of peace in our day requires divine preparation. T o be truly prepared, we must live very near to our Lord. Nehemiah says, “ He that sounded the trumpet was by me” (Neh. 4 :18 ). Only by such nearness to the Captain o f our sal vation can “ the word o f Christ dwell in you [us] richly in all wisdom” (Col. 3 :1 6 ); and only thus can we know “ the things which God hath prepared for them that love him,” for “ God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit” (1 Cor. 2:9, 10). “ Even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a dis tinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is
to hear and to rejoice; tomor row there is darkness on Goll| gotha’s hill, there is scoffing, there is weeping, there is dy ing, as heaven’s dear One be comes “ sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” It is only a step from the bosom o f the Father to the agony o f the cross— but what a step!—and one that is possible only by way o f the incarnation and the inexplic able humiliation o f which Bethlehem formed the scene. Not as an Example, merely, but as the only Saviour from sin, Christ came. Think, if you will, of the beauty and the wonder and the joy o f that first Christ mas day. Echo again the glad ness that heaven began. It is the sweetest story earth has ever heard. But, as you join the shepherds and the wise men in their gift-giving and their praise, forget not to no tice that across the manger bed where lies the Lord of life garbed in human flesh, the long, dark shadows o f the cross are already lengthening. Bethlehem means C a lva ry . And whoever lingers
piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare him self for the battle?” (1 Cor. 14:7, 8 ). Trumpeter o f Jesus Christ, what o f your prepara tion? What of your testi mony? Wake Up n old Greek merchant killed his w a tchm an whom he found asleep, and justified himself before the senate with the remark : “ I left him as I found him.” A dead watcher is as valuable as a sleeping sentinel. For prac tical purposes, a cemetery is as serviceable as a dormitory. Oh, how blindly enamored is the slumbering Christian with his delusive dreams ! He says that the g o ld e n age has dawned, when the darkest hour o f apostasy has come; that the age is good and great, when it is drunken with abom inations, and besotten with vileness indescribable. “ What meanest thou, O sleeper ?arise, n
H Qhrtetmas I wish that I might lead to Christ’s dear feet —- Those nail marked feet — Some straying soul, some wandering one Who has no Christmas in his heart or home. The year has been so blank and dark, And my devotion but a spark, A glimmering light, uncertain, dim, So poor the service I have rendered Him who loves me so,
That while I smile this Christmas day, And join my friends in mirth and play, I cannot let the day depart Without an honest look into my heart. Be this my prayer:
O Jesus, let my earnest word be brother to my deed; And let my uttered love to Thee be more than creed, And when upon the threshold o f another year I stand, With joy may I stretch forth to Thee A full and not an empty hand .— S elected .
at the cradle to the exclusion o f the cross has missed the meaning o f Christmas and all that divine love would impart. Ask for the Old Paths hat is the way o f safety and enjoyment, wherein one may walk in these troublous days ? It is the path o f life : “ Thou wilt show me the path of life” (Psa. 16: 11). It is a plain path: “ Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies,” or, “ be cause o f those who observe me” (Psa. 27 :11). It is a path which the Lord directs: “ He shall direct thy paths” (Prov. 3 :6 ). It is a right path: “ I have led thee in right paths” (Prov. 4 :11 ). It is a peaceful path: “ All her paths are peace” (Prov. 3 :17 ). It is a straight path: “ Make straight paths for your feet” (Heb. 12:13). It is a shin ing path: “ The path o f the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Prov. 4 :18 ).
call upon thy God.” “ Ye, brethren, are not in darkness . . . Let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” By the Word I f the experience of an older preacher is worth any thing, young ministers may be urged to quote much Scripture in their sermons. Without this, they may exhibit their learning, or show their eloquence, or adorn their sen tences with beautiful and poetical figures o f speech; but their oratory will be like a fine musical entertainment, going in at one ear and out at the other. By the Word we are begotten (Jas. 1 :18) ; by the Word we are born again (1 Pet. 1 :2 3 ); by the Word we grow (1 Pet. 2 : 2 ) ; by the Word we are sanctified (John 17 :17) ; by the Word we are defended (Eph. 6 :1 7 ); by the Word we overcome (Rev. 12:11). All men’s sermons will be forgotten in a little while, “ But the word o f the Lord endureth for ever” (1 Pet. 1:25).
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