GIVING HIMSELF In the long ago a raise king ruled in Persia. He loved his people. In a desire to know how they lived he sought to have some kind of appreciation for their problems. So, to learn more of the hard ships they suffered he would often dress in the clothes of a working man or a beggar and call on them. In such garb no one would even begin to suspect that he was their ruler. One of his visits took him to the home of a very poor man who just existed in a cold, dark cellar. The unfortunate invited his sovereign, whom, of course, he hadn’t recognized, to sit down and share his meager food with him. The king cheered the beleaguered man before leaving. Sometime later, while on his way to an important meet ing, the king’s carriage took him by the humble dwelling he had earlier visited. He ordered the coach stopped and went in to visit his friend. Now dressed in his regal robes, the poor man could hardly believe his eyes. Yet, in extreme poverty he didn’t ask for any gifts or favors. Instead he marvelled, “As my king, you left your palace and your glory to visit me in this dark, dreary place. You ate the humble food I have to eat. You brought untold gladness to my heart. To others you may have given your rich gifts, sire, but to me you gave yourself." Do you see the parallel? The King of glory, the Lord Jesus Christ, gave Himself to you and me. No wonder the Bible exhorts us, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” * * * Don't resent growing old. Remember, there are some people who have been denied the privilege. Due to such * rapidly increasing student body, there has to be two chapel service locations. Hero are a group of young people coming from the Ethel Leo Bible Hall heading for other classes. Wo thank the Lord lor the fine quality of young people whom Ho has sent to our five Biola schools for preparation in places ol spiritual leadership.
WHERE IT BEGAN A city missionary in London went out to the race track in an effort to witness to some of the people. Approaching a stable he found a jockey and talked to him about the need of salvation for his soul. The fellow began cursing and told him, “This is no place to talk religion, and that’s the end of it.” The man of God replied, “No, my friend, that’s not the end of it, it’s only the beginning! Christianity, you see, began in a stable. Jesus Christ was born in just such a place, and here you may be bom again, too.” Through kindness and persever ance, the missionary had the opportu nity of reaching that man for Christ. * * * Without faith we are like stained glass windows in the dark. * * * COLOR FOR POINSETTIAS An ancient legend speaks of the time when custom had people bringing large quantities of bouquets to the church at Christmas in order to decorate the sanc tuary. One year as parishioners marched to the services, their arms loaded with flowers, a poor little orphan child stood by the roadside crying. She was too poor to purchase any of the blossoms which she could present to the Saviour. A stranger took pity on her and stopped to console her with the suggestion, “Why don’t you just bring the branches of that shrub?” Through her tears the lass ex plained, “But it has no flowers; it even looks like a weed.” The stranger smiled and replied, “Your desire will cause it to flower.” Without a moment more of hesi tation she picked several boughs and in doing so the green leaves began to glow with a soft crimson light which eventu ally became the deepest shade of red. When they took their place on the altar they were the loveliest of all the bou quets. While the story of how poinsettias got their color is nothing more than a legend, it does teach us that if the de sire is sincere, God can make our hum blest offering, if it is truly all that we can do, become the most beautiful. Re member the Scripture verse telling us, “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” * * * A cynic is a person who knows the price of everything, but the value of nothing. 32
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