The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-12-24

WHAT is the message of the stable?
w What Is the message of the inn ?
One stands for cooperation with God,
the other rejection and indifference to
His claims. One becomes the recipient
service, while the other in narrow
selfishness loses both blessing and the
privilege of service. The characteristics
of the stable and the inn are still to be
marked in the world to-day. There are
those who are willing to receive the
Christ, and who thus become instru-
ments in Gods hands of great service
and blessing On the other hand, there
are those who typify the inn and refuse
the Christ admittance, and maintain an
attitude Of supreme indifference to His
claims upon them. At the glad Christ
mas time what more fitting occasion on
which to consider this supreme ques-
ton? With you and me it is either the
stable or the inn. There is 10 neutral
ground. The Christ child, the Christ
mas gift of God to men, comes to every
heart and seeks for admission. Shall
the rejection of the inn, or the welcome
of the stable, mark our attitude?
"'Tis not enough that Chr'7. was born
Beneath the star that shone,
And earth was set that morn
Within u Solden zone.
He must 90 born within the heart
Before He finds His throne,
And briny 81 the day of love and good,
The reign o: Christ-like brotherhood"
~ HE stable typifies open-hearted re-
i ception of the Christ, willing sur
render of the best we have to the Christ.
and acceptable service rendered for the
Christ. The first essential need is the
making room for Jesus. The crowded
condition o! the inn may find its coun-
terpart in cur lives where the cares and
activities OF this life would crowd out
the claims of God upon us, and make us
prone to turn the Christ away with the
excuse that there is no room, that we are
busy providing for the present guests
who have found lodgment with us. To
reject Christ does not require that we
show open enmity and hatred towards
Him. Christ was not driven from the
door of that inn at Bethlehem in cruel
hatred 1t was enough that Mary and
Joseph should be told, perhaps ever so
politely and regretfully, that there was
no room. 1t served the same purpose of
shutting out the Christ, and so with you
and me. We may know of no bitter OPP
position or hatred ruling in the heart
which keeps the Christ out All that is
necessary is to be so filled and crowded
with other things as to lead us to turn
Him politely away, and say: Some
day, when we are not so pressed for
room and time, we will be glad to well
come YOU" But Jesus does not wait on
such invitation. The opportunity OF
sheltering the Christ came to the inn
but once, and that opportunity lost was
lost forever, and SO it may be with you.
Jesus comes at this Christmas time. He
seeks for room and shelter in your heart
Will you not make place for Him there
at once, even though every other thing
has to be turned out and given up?
A ND once within, let the Saviour have
IA the best the place affords. The man
ger was not much. 1t was rude, rough
place, and yet as 1t was surrendered 1t
became the cradle of the born King.
What you have may seem mean and poor
and unusable. But IL 1t is surrendered
to the Christ, He will find use for It.
He will glorify and honor 1t with His
presence. He will make 1t the medium
OF blessing to others. II that humble
| m a n ppr had had tho y,auar ~ m 4, =, 4
had the spirit of some who have admit
ted the Christ to their lives and hearts,
l imagine l can hear 1t speaking on this
wise: II would so like to do something
for this Christ. Oh, II l were only like
the bed, or even the cot, of the well
appointed inn, how gladly would serve
Him! Oh! II only had the comfort of
its ample frame, or the warmth OF Its
rugs and blankets! But have nothing
but this rack of rough boards before
which the cattle stand. have nothing
but this fodder which surely l cannot
| offer to Him." But the manger was
there. 1t was willing to be used. And
Mary laid the Christ therein, and II be-
came transformed with a glory such
as never shone round the throne OF
earthly king. And 80 It may be with
you and me. The most unlikely posses
sion may become respondent and glori-
Gus with the Divine presence But II
with the narrow vision of the inn VIC
turn the Christ away, we may keep ali
the crowding guests which this world
can give. but we lose Heavens gift and
the star OF hope rises not over our hab.
itation. Which shall 1t be, the stable
or the inn? Let the prayer OF the poe,
be the breathings of our heart. with
the soul yearning which Christ alon,
can satisfy let us cry:
20. holy Child OF Bethlehem,
Descend to us. we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter IN.
Be born In us to-day.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad-tidings tell;
oh. como to us, abide with IN n
nss~ xrA