Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-12-24


tlreIy in words of one syllable.
TT u speaks the mind OF God
who tells us and would have
us know what God thinks. for
IL 1t were not for him we
could not know at all. God did so
love the world that he gave his own.
one Son, TO be born ut this time for u.s.
to the end that all who trust I'm him
should not die. but have the life which
lasts for aye" He came and "dwelt
with us" on earth that men might see
with their own eyes ut least one pure
life, lived free from sin. He was made
"fesh of our flesh" and 'bone of our
BONE" God with u.s. in truth, but man
no less, true man and true Coda child
like one OF our own. That is the
strange thing. SO deep that no man.
wise as he may be, can quite take it in.
He was to be God with u.s." but at
the same time "a worm and no man.
less than man in the grief and pain
and scorn which he bore.
The texts take our thoughts back TO
the birth of this day. II Is birthday
for the whole world to keep. All men
can say: "ro us this child is born; to
us God gave this son Of his love.
have my share In it." And so we are
all glad OF heart and make our church
gay with plants and flowers and sing
our hymns Of JOY and keep the feast
with gifts and good fare. 1t is the
birth day of all our hopes. Now, 1t was
good news OF great JOY that the host
from on high brought TO the herds who
kept watch on their sheep In the fields
And it Is still So For us, as much as
for them, was born in that small town
one strong to save. (which is Christ
the Lord"
1t is old news now, and l fear it falls
on our dull, cold hearts like some old
tale OF long past time which has lost
its charm. Oh. let us not shut our ears
to It as some OF those first men did.
When be came to his own his own
would not take him in. They said
"There is no room for him here"-no
room I'm the inn when he came to IT,
1t was not an inn. you must know, like
one of ours, but mere bare court
where those on the road might rest-a
"khan" they call 1t in the east
Does 1t not seem to us Il sad and
strange sight that a young babe should
be shut out in the cold night-God in
want Of house room? A poor place. at
best, as rude and rough as we can
well think, and. such as IT was. quite
full with the crowd who had come first
The host Of the inn sends them of
He tells them there is cave at the
back OF the inn where the beasts are
kept; they may find rest there. IL they
will. That cave. where the birth OF
oil time took place. is still shown in
the rock. A great church built there
marks the spot. Then. poor, mean and
cold, 1t was the best place he could
find to lay his head
1.-THE fox has his hole and the bird
Of the air her nest, but the Son ofsMan
hath not where to lay his head" SO. in
that cave In the rock, the stall OF the
OK and the ass. In the crib out of which
they ate their hay, the newborn babe
was laid. Just think what all this
means-God made flesh, God born as
man In this world OF ours. that he
might find way to bring back man to
Godl He hid his might, and men hid
their face from him. None but the
herds who kept their sheep saw or
knew of 1t till they fell to the ground
In great blaze of light. and host OF
bright ones In the sky sang such
song as no choir on earth has sung.
which gave praise to God on high.
land on earth peace, good will to men,"
Those herds had faith TO go and seek
the child Of whom they were told. They
found him In the crib. and they saw
more than their eyes could see They
knew that In that weak child was the
power of God TO save. And SO these
good men, when they had how'd down.
went back to their flock. struck with
awe. and gave praise to God for all
they had heard and seem"
Shall we do less? Shall we not, too,
60 home and give thanks on our part,
with joy for what we have heard? And
In all our Joy let us find room for the
one guest who should not be left out
room In our hearts for him whose word
Is life.