T he first Christmas began with the joyous song of the angels, “ glory to God in the highest! and on earth peace to men of good will.” To a blighted world like ours the realization that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life should lift our spirits out of life’s shadows into the sunshine of God’s love. But for millions of Americans Christmas has become madness. The jangle of Christmas music and glare of Christmas lights, leave us with an aching void in our souls. That which is basic in Christmas is fast disappear ing in America. People plod the streets wearily to buy their customary gifts. The thought of the Unspeakable Gift, our Lord Jesus Christ Who was given to us and to the world as Saviour and coming King on the first Christmas morn, is nearly obliterated. The 8th Chapter of Luke tells the story of great crowds following our Lord. It was the popular period of His min istry. He raised a young girl from the dead. He had stilled a great storm at sea, and the popularity of Jesus had as cended to its zenith. The crowds thronged about Him at
indulge yourself until you are surfeited and every high desire is crushed under the tons of possessions. Advertisers gleefully declare that America is exper iencing a revolution in self-indulgence. People who used to say, “ I mustn’t waste my money on that,” are saying, “Why shouldn’t I have it?” All of this is bringing the curse of inflation which robs the Kingdom of God and hinders the salvation of souls. Oh that I had the voice of thunder to shout this truth into the ears and hearts of the multitudes of our land and say, “ Stop jostling Jesus; bow in His presence; touch Him. He alone can save this world from the awful horror which seems just around the comer — and He (done can save your soul eternally!” The ship of our civilization is wallowing badly in the high seas of world intrigue. Can she survive? Those who command the ship seem powerless because many have rejected the Christ of Christmas. Don’t jostle Christ — appropriate Him! The Christmas throngs need to touch Jesus! Let us return to the woman who touched the hem of His gar ment. Jesus said, “Virtue has gone out of me.” No virtue
CtMMIRCIAUSM
AMI CHRIST
by William Ward Ayer
every public appearance, pushing Him around rudely. But one shy woman crowded close to Jesus and prayer fully and purposefully touched the border of His gar ment. Immediately her physical affliction, an issue of blood, was staunched. Jesus said, “Somebody has touched me, for I perceive that virtue has gone out of me.’ And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before Him, she declared unto Him, before all the people, for what cause she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said unto her, ‘Daugh ter be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole. Go in peace.” Today Jesus is jostled in the Christmas throngs, and only those who touch Him by faith are blessed. But the crowds love falseness, and the greedy merchants, backed by Madison Avenue’s fabulous and often false advertising, complete the pagan debauch. The prodigality of this generation mocks the Christian philosophy of denying oneself material things that one might be strong in spiritual things. Today’s appeal is to
goes out of Jesus by merely brushing by Him carelessly; but when there is a touch of faith, something happens! I am so glad to proclaim at this Christmas season that we have a Christ Who can be “ touched.” The writer of Hebrews says: “We have not an high priest who can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we-are, yet without sin.” Let us be spiritually-minded for a moment and rec ognize that the effective touch is a touch of faith, for when the Lord Jesus confronted the woman, she was so afraid that she came trembling and falling down before Him, declaring to Him before all the people why she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. He said unto her, “Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” Can you see the lesson? Oh, the importance of it! The mere touch of the woman’s fingers against the cloth could never bring virtue out of Christ, but the spirit of yearning desire and trust could. Touch Him personally this glad Christmas season, and know His power.
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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