Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-12-22


The lesson for Sunday, Dec. rs. may
be found in Luke II. 500.
INTRODUCTORY.
We close with this the lessons OF 1892.
Next year the Internationa Series comes
back again into the Old Testament and,
this time, to the period OF the minor
prophets. beginning with Ezra 1. ILL
Returning from Captivity. We give be-
low a few notes on the lesson:
LESSON NOTES.
Christ Is the true Christmas gift.
Tell of Christ to others; that is good
Christmas giving.
Or do as the shepherds did-make II
known abroad. Go with the good news
or give money to send others.
1t Is to humble shepherds that angels
must resign the work they would long
themselves to perform. God calls his
chosen messengers from the lowliest.
But they were faithful In their sphere;
they were keeping watch. Has God
given you q humble charge? Keep IL
we'll. To such God says, for higher
employ: Thou hast been faithful over
few things, will make thee ruler over
many things" AS DR.. Gordon has said,
We'll done" presupposes well-doing.
But IL God gives you something bet
ter to do, arise and do it, He will look
after the, work you leave behind. Those
sheep on the Bethlehem hillside had
angel wardens in the shepherds alb
sence. God will take care Of the boats
and nets; he has some one else for
them. Leave all, and follow Jesus.
Take it personally: Unto you is
born. this day, in the city OF David. a
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
This day. Happy, happy Christmas
morn, IL 1t bring TO you Saviour. But,
perhaps, you already know him; then
know him better, have larger faith in
him. TO you who believe he Is pre-
cious." Let it be a new Christ to whom
whom you look up this day and say,
Saviour! Masterl"
May the Church of Jesus Christ be-
hold anew the Son of God, and write its
heavenly name clearer, stronger. A
larger Christ is the need Of the age.
George Heron is right about 1t, Every
true conversion is only the beginning OF
the souls discovery OF the Saviour. A
new apprehension of Jesus of Nazareth
on the part of the church Is what our
poor, blind and halt old world is wait
ing for at this Christmas-tide. o, Lord
open the eyes of thy servants that they
may see wondrous thingsl
And after the vision, what then?
Mary kept all these things. and pom
dered them In her heart. Too many OF
us look and listen, and then forget; toe
few keep and ponder. But see the
shepherds. They returned, clarifying
and praising God for all the things that
they had heard and seen, as it was told
them" That Is they lived up to their
lights. So great with many of us lie
the difference and distance between the
light we nave seen and the life we live
Great light. little enthusiasts; pure
light, crooked walk; searching light
the matter with the Christians to-day
that with SO many Of them there
is slack Joy, light fruit?" This
brother pastor, full of faith anC
good works, answers for US: "Toc
many get no farther than the frs
glimpse of Jesus. Failing TO act upor
the whole truth given them, content
simply to be healed of past sins, they
go their way half devoted, only hal
given to the Master. Constantly, al
new occasions for conservation OF gift
and talent arise unimproved, they keeI
falling behind, falling behind; until
presently, there really seems to be more
that is devoted to self than there is de.
voted to Christ" Is it happy life t.
lead? Nay, it is wretched. Come
then, back to the place we started
Let us now go even unto Bethlehem
and see this thing which Is come Il
pass, which the Lord hath made known
unto us.