Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-12-15
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Text of the Lesson, Luke Ill, $40.
Memory Verses, Is, 14-GOlden
Text, Luke III, 10-Commentary
Prepared by Rev. ID. Nj. Stearns.

Memory Verses, IL, 14-GOlden
Text, Luke III, documentary
Prepared by Rev. ID. Nj. Stearns.
The regular lesson in III Kings xvii
tells Of the contamination of Israers
sin under Hosea, their last king, until
the Lord removed them out Of His
sight. There was none left but the
tribe of judah only xvii, 49,. judah
also kept not the commandments OF the
Lord, but sinned more and more, with
but few exceptions as to their kings,
until they, too, were carried into cap
tivity xvii, 10; III Chron. XXXvi. 1910.
Ii is refreshing TO turn from such
record 20 the story OF the birth of their
long promised Messiah of whom it was
forCtoid that He would lie born Of
virgin. in The town of Bethlehem. OF
the line OF navid lisa. VII. IA; tx. 6, I,
Mic. V. -, 80 il came Ia pass that
When the fullness of the time was
come God s'.1t forth His Son, made of
Il woman. made under the law, to re
deem them that were under the law
! (Gal. iv. /, -.
| from the ruler of the world, I'm order
that this blessed Virgin Mary should
come from Nazareth to Bethlehem; that
this wonderful babe should be born i'm
the place foretold by the prophet And
SO II came TO pass that while they
were at Bethlehem she brought forth
her frstborn son. and laid Him
A hanunsp xra S nn
! for them In the inn duke II, 10. The
only babe that was ever born whose
birth did not mean the beginning Of his
existence, for Of this child Il was true
that His goings forth were from the
days of eternity Mic. V, p. lie had
walked In human form with Adam Ia
Eden, had eaten Abraham's food, talk
ed with Joshua, Gideon and Manoah.
Truly great is the mystery of goodness.
God was manifest in the flesh Il Tim
| iii, 80.
We are not required to understand
1t, but simply to believe 1t, as little
children who believe what they are
told, for these things are hidden from
the wise and prudent and revealed
|
like babes, for when told the wonder
full tidings they did not for moment
| question, but said, Let us now go
even unto Bethlehem and see this
thing which is come to pass. which the
| Lord hath made known unto US
! (yerse 30. They came with haste and
| found il just as the angel had said
and then they made known abroad
that which they had seen and heard
| VERSES 1G. 10. When the disciples
were sent TO bring the ass colt for
Him to ride upon and to find the room
where they might prepare the last
| passover, it is written of each event
that they found as He had said unto
them luke xix, 80; xii. 49,. AS to
making it known, we think of Peter
and John and hear them saying, I'VE
| cannot but speak the things which we
have seen and heard" (Acts iv, 20)
| All shall come to pass as it is written
In the book, and we shall find in this
world and in the ages to come just as
| He has said.
If we were as simple minded beiev-
| ers as these shepherds we would be
ever clarifying and praising God for
| all the things heard and seen. as told
US in His Word Some would only
wonder, but some would ike Mary
| keep the words In their hearts and
! ponder them verses 1920. IL Is ours
to tell. He viii watch over Ills word,
and it will always accomplish His
| pleasure lisa. w. IL; Jer. |, ~. The
shepherds were quietly occupied with
| their regular work, keeping watch over
their tOcks, when the messenger from
heaven came TO them with the wonder.
full tidings. So it was with Moses and
Gideon and Elisha and Amos and
Zacharias and Mary; all were going
about their ordinary work. The angel
came in the night. The world was
still and unexpectant. When our Lord
shall come again il will be in such an
hour as we think not. There was
glory with the angel which made the
shepherds sore afraid, but the first
word was the oft repeated Fear not"
How many DO you know? How many
have you appropriated and laid to
heart? The good tidings of great Joy
were not only for them, but for all
people. Can the tidings be really joy
full to those who profess to believe
them, but are doing nothing to help all
people to know?
Can people know Jesus Christ the
Lord as their own personal Saviour,
who forgives and saves them, and not
desire above all things to make known
this great salvation? 1t does seem I'm
| possible. But how explain the indif-
| ference of the vast multitude of pro
fessed believers? Are those who are
not interested In making known the
glad tidlngs real believers? God only
knows. Suddenly a multitude of an
gels join the first angel, and all unite
In proclaiming, "Glory to God In the
highest, and on earth peace, good will
II