Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-23
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creaseth; and there Is that withholdeth
more than is meet but 1t tendeth to pow
erty." Judah robbed God. Are We robbers
today? Do we give God what belongs to
The lack of system in giving and the
sin OF selfshness answers for most Of our
failures in giving. God promised Judah
that IL they would pay their debts to Him
that we should try Him. He is calling
us by the gift of His son to return unto
Him so that He can return unto us.
X
Perils and Possibilities.
refuses to repent and return unto God
The gospel of Christ is for those who
| will. The condemnation of Christ i.
promised to those who will not return
| from their evil ways to seek mercy and
pardon.
Malachi points out the three different
classes who were in peril, the priests
who were Goddess. the people who re-
fused to pay their debts, and the men
who doubted religion because they judged
1T upon false standards. In our nex'
years lessons We will see how Christi
ministry was divided into three epochs.
In Jehovah's book of remembrance are
written the names of those who feared
Him and spake often one to another.
Hc AutuIc Will reveal lnaI the u1IeTcnCt
between men is deeper than appearances,
and that their relation to Christ will de-
termine not only the distance, but the
destiny between the righteous and the
wicked" The last word of the Old Tes-
lament pointed to the possibilities open
to the faithful because of the coming
Messiah. The last note of warning re-
puking judah Of sin was filled with the
prediction Of the coming not only Of our
Lord, 1.-The messenger of the covenant -
a xx-hn no
in the wilderness. would announce His
coming.
Four hundred years of silence. Then
the universe breaks forth in signs song
and story proclaiming the fulf1llment of
this prophecy. The waiting Of the GEN.
| turtles in the fullness Of time was ended
in the birth Of Christ We ought, as we
study the fulfillment of prophecy. to real
lie the danger that will come to us un-
less we. too. know the reality Of reli-
gion the truth Of His gospel. and put con-
fidence in the glad tidings by accepting
Him as our Lord and Savior. II we do
this the responsibility is ours to carry
the message of hope as well as of warn
ing to the man who is lost, because he
has missed the mark Of God. failed to do
His will and wandered into the far coun-
try. To him God would send US as His
messenger, even as He sent Malachi of
and L will return unto you, saith the
Lord Of Hosts"
The Babe born in Bethlehem's manager
proved Gods love for all. by the life He
lived, by the lessons that He taught and
the legacy of service that He bequeathed
to us to preach the gospel to every crea-
ture. with its message of pardon for the
past, peace for the present. power for
the future and heaven for the hereafter.
We ought to dread the doom of the
wicked and rescue the pertshing. We
should claim our inheritance Of the king
dom He has prepared for US. AS God
loved and gave unto us Christ and with
Him all things. SO let us love God with
our whole heart and give unto Him on
Christmas day our love, because He first
loved us. and our life. because He gave
His life to save US. The Christmas les
SON tells Of Gods gift to us that demands
the gift Of ourselves to Him. The great
est event in history was the birth of
Christ in Bethlehem. The greatest event
in our life will be our new birth in
Christ, when we will offer ourselves to
Christ to share His service Of winning
the world with the message Of His gospel
so that all men may be counted as His
In that day when He makes up His
Jewels.