St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-01-14

child was quite blind, and to her poo
. sightless eyes the pretty window toll,
no story. But the loving little friend!
told the blind child of the rude stable
the hay, the cows and the sheep, the
sweet mother beside the manger il
. which the Christ-child was sleeping
the open door through which the won.
caring shepherds were coming and the
bright star above which shed soft light
over all. The little blind girl listened
with absorbed interest, drinking in
every detail Of the window decoration
as 1t was described, and reproducing it
in her minds eye, until her face lit up
with joyful smile, and, clasping her
hands together in rapture, she ex-
claimed, again and again: "Ah! that
is beautiful" And ali! how many there
are who, like the little blind girl before
the show window in Berlin, where the
scene OF Jesus birth was depicted, stand
beholding the Christmas celebration
and yet because of blindness OF heart
they do not see and realize it's hidden
beatty and meaning! All! how va
would love to throw our arms about
such and try and tell them all the won
derful story of Cod S love and God s gift!
How we long to bring such to open the
neart and make room for the Christ
VINO has come into the world to seek
and to save the lost! Why stay in the
Inn, away from the Christ, when We
may enter into His very presence and
realize, as did the shepherds that night,
| that unto US is born in the city Of
David. Saviour, Which is Christ the
Lord: Between the experience of the
Inn and the stable there is the same diff
ference as that which marked the blind
girl and her little friends. God grant
that you may be as willing and as
eager to hear the message as the blind
child was!
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
OF blessing, and the medium of exalted
service, while the other in narrow
selhshness 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 arc
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, aud 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 no 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 attitude1
II HE stable typifies open hearted re-
1 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 of the inn may find its coun-
.erpart in our lives where the cares and
activities Of this life would crowd ont
he claims of God upon us, and make VI
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 Judgment with US. To
reject Christ does not require that We
show open enmity and hatred towards
Him. Christ was not driven from the
1oor of that inn at Bethlehem in cruel
hatred. 1t was enough that Mary and
Joseph should be told, perhaps ever 70
politely and regretfully, that there was
10 room. It served the same purpose OF
hutting out the Christ, and so with you
md me. We may know of no bitter op-
POSITION or hatred ruling In the heart
Thich keeps the Christ out. All that n
ecessary is to be so filled and crowded
With other things as to lead us to turn
lin politely away, and say: Some
ay, when we are not SO pressed for
DOM and time, We will be glad to well
ONE YOU" But Jesus does not wait On
UGH invitation. The opportunity OF
lettering the Christ came to the INN
ut once, and that opportunity lost was
'st forever, and so it may be with you.
esus comes at this Christmas time. He
seks for room and shelter in your heart,
Viii you not make place for Him there
once, even though every other thing
rs to be turned out and given up! Bet
r have the Christ than all else that the
ord can give.
ND once within, let the Saviour have
the best the place Affords. The man
r was not much. It was a rude, rough
ace. and yet as it was surrendered II
came the cradle OF the newborn King.
hat you have may seem mean and Door
i'd unusable. But if it is surrendered
the Christ He will find use for II
will glorify and honor it with His
essence. He will make it the medium
blessing to others. If that humble
anger had had the power of speech and
d the spirit of some who have admit.
the Christ to their lives and hearts.
imagine can hear it speaking on this
Sc: I would so like to do something
: this Christ. Oh, if were only like
bed, or even the cot, of the well.
pointed inn, how gladly would serve
m! Oh! If only had the comfort az
ample frame, or the warmth of its
gs and blankets! But have nothing
t this rack Of rough boards before
itch the cattle stand. Ihave nothing
t this fodder which surely l cannot