The Washington times., 1902-12-20

Prayer Meeting Topic Tor December 2l.
CHRISTMAS: ITS MESSAGE AND MOTIVE.
Luke H.I10. John ih.lt1T
Tho message Of Christmas fin 1902 is
the message Of nineteen hundred years
ago: Peace on earth. and good will
TO men" The motive is disclosed in
John lille. For God so loved the
world that he gave His only boEotton
Son. that whosoevor belicvcth on Him
might not perish but have eternal life. 30
The message: Peace and good will
The motive. Gods love. The gift.
Eternal life 20 everyone that bclievcth.
Shall we not think Of these things
on Christmas morning? Shall we not
turn our thoughts toward Bethlehem
and the manger, the guiding star, The
attending multitude Of the Heavenly
host? And let us also remember that
not only the humble shepherds but also
the wise men worshiped tho newborn
Saviour.
How strange that anyone should ever
have been unwilling 20 receive this Won
derful Saviour. How strange that even
now some are unwilling. TO accept Him
lie Himself has said. Il am come that
ye might have life. and that ye might
have it abundautly." Would that all
might accept the gift Of eterp2l life.
and that on Christmas morning everyone
might join i'm praise and thanksgiving.
Notes from the Christian Endeavor
World"
Every holiday says Think"
The message OF Easter is. Think Of
Heaven!" The message Of the Fourth
Of July is. Think of our nation" Tho
message Of Thanksgiving IS. Think Of
your blessings" The message Of New
Year Day IS. Think Of the passing
Of time"
The message Of Christmas is Think
OF others" II is Think OF others. prac-
tically, before it is Think of Christ. %
though all unseInshness is Of necessity
so closely linked to Christ that we can
not long think Of others without coming
TO think OF Him who is our inspiration
10 think OF others.
No one who mas read Ben Hur" viii
ever forget that matchless opening. the
account Of the journey Of the wise men
10 Bethlehem. At one time they lose
sight OF the star, but again it flames out
before them. and they cry as with one
voice "The start the star, God is with
u.s." In the spirit Of that scene we
may be sure that God will be with us
during the coming year IL we can keep
with us the Christmas star and what it
signifies.
Once Mr.. Moody. after preaching on
the subject. Christ as a deIiverer." said
10 a Scotchman as he walked away. "I
did not finish the subject" "Ah. mani
answered the Scotchman. eye did not
expect 10 finish. did ye? 1t will take all
eternity 10 finish telling what Christ has
done for man"
The message Of the angels 70 the shep-
herds was the first gospel service ever
held II was a small audience. but "a
ready one. and the preaching was done
by the host OF the heavenly beings The
sermon was short and TO Che point The
choir was the finest ever heard The re-
suit Of the service was one to be de-
cAtA lDi every soHpe4 service, lor the
shepherds went at once TO seek Christ.
King Herod and the Jewish priests
knew nothing about Christ. while on the
other hand. the wise men came from far
away and found Jesus. so il is that those
Of simple and loving hearts always find
Christ. and those that are proud never
find Him
The angels song cansot be heard in
The busy world 10 may be heard only
in the quiet suu places. such as was
the midnisLt field where the shepherds
were. II we want 10 hear that song. we
must drive the glamour OF the worlds
fret and greed out OF our hearts. and
make them like that starIit Bethlehem
plain
The lovely Christmas carol by Phil
lips Brooks puts into poetry the heart OF
the Christmas message and motive.
It is coming old Earth. BE- is coming tariglt.
ON tho sn0Whascs which cover the sod.
The feet ri The thrist.ghud hu gentle and
white.
And thc voice % the ChristshHI tells out with
delight
That mankind are the children of COL