Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-12-15
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
BEGINNING Dec. 10, 1909.

Topic.-Our Christmas gifts-Matt II.
I'LL Comment by Rev. Sherman II.
Doyle. D. y,
The Christmas season always sug
gests giving. 1t was on the first Christ
mas day that Christ. 1.-THE unspeakable
gift of God to man, was born into the
world. Christmas therefore speaks of
Gods gift to man, and the custom of
giving gifts to loved ones and friends
at this season OF the year has become
almost worldwide custom. In no
better way perhaps could we celebrate
the. birthday OF Jesus Christ, the gin
of God to the world. than by the CIV
ing of gifts. The example Of our Goa
Is worthy of our imitation. and It Is
a beautiful sight at the Christmasflde
to see the spirit Of giving that pos
sesses all. The human heart Is open
ed and liberality and generosity
abound. and many who at other times
are hacking In these things learn the
JOY and blessedness OF giving as well
a. CT receiving.
Taking a comprehensive view Of
Christmas giving, 1t may be summed
up under three divisions--tl) our gifts
to God, f2) our gifts to Chris, 60 our
gifts to one another.
/. Our gifts to God. Giving to God
is Of supreme importance. But what
shall we give? That which He desires
How often we try to discover what
our friends or loved ones want before
we purchase Christmas gifts for them
We should also give to God what He
wants. And In the Bible He tells us
His desire concerning us when He
says. "Son. daughter, give me thine
heart Our hearts as gift is His
supreme want. for everything else goes
with the giving Of the heart. He who
gives all the love of the heart surren-
ders all else with IT. Therefore let us
love the Lord cur God with all our
heart" AS never before let us at this
Christmas season give Him the SUI
preme place in our affections, and with
this gift there viii go time and money
and service.
2. Our gifts to Christ 1t is hard to
separate God and Christ in our giving.
Both are divine and both are one.
sThe Father and are one But their
relationships to Us differ, ana thus we
may speak at least of Offering gifts to
each. The heart can only be given to
the Father through the Son. Yet the
gifts of the wise men may suggest our
gifts to Christ. az Ther worshiped
Him. When they saw Christ .'they
fell down and worshiped Him. God
the Son is worthy of our worship as
IL
hold Him in the highest reverence. bow
down before Him and give. to Him the
best devotion OF our minds and hearts.
f2) And when they opened their treas
ures they presented unto him gifts"
(a) Gold Christ needs and wants gifts OF
money. 1t is required to carry on His
work in the world, and He wants it as
gifts. Giving is constantly emphasized
In the Scriptures, and we should give
of our money to Christ. Take my
silver and my gold' should not only be
sung. but acted upon. in the giving Of
our money to Christ. 90 Frankincense
and myrrh. These were precious ONT
ments of the orient They were the
best gifts, such as were given to kings.
Such gifts should teach us to give
our best gifts to Christ. Give Of your
best to the Master A small boy
gave Christ ave Ioaves and two fishes,
seemingly trifiing gift. Yet Christ
multiplied It and through it fed 5000
people! Our gifts may seem small,
but II they are our best and freely Civ
en- to Christ He can make great use
Of them.
8. Our gifts 10 one another Christ
mas day witnesses vast exchange Of
gifts. The tendency today Is to give
more expensive gifts than are neces-
sary. Let US avoid it. Let us also
not confine our giving to loved ones
and friends, but make seine gifts to
the poor and needy. Exchange of gifts
Il largely selfishness. but gift to one
from whom we can expect nothing In
return is the true spirit Of giving.
BBLE READINGS.
Ps. 1xxxiv, SIP; cix. IL; Prov. xiii
Is; Nal. lii, 10; Prov. xix. II; xii. 8;
Matt. <, AZ; LIKE vi, 3S; Matt. v, 49,
p; ROM xii, l, 2: II Cor. viii, f-12.
w. J. Bryan and Temperance.
thrilling upr7od in the recent ST