The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1918-12-20
Christmas MessaQe

lisa 7:14. wherefore the Lord shall give thee a sign; behold
a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name I'm
manuel" Of all narratives, possibly that of the birth of Christ is
the most beautiful in all sacred writ. When Mary and Joseph
reached Bethlehem the hour was late and as no room could be
found in the "inn" we find that Jesus, the Christ, was born in a
manger. At the same time we read that al angel announced the
birth Of Christ to the shepherds who were nearby caring for their
flocks. And with the angel there appeared a multitude of the heav-
emily host praMing God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest,
on earth peace, good will toward men," Then with haste drew
near to Bethlehem and they found Mary and Joseph and the Babe
lying in the manger. Immediately they recognized that this was
the Christ and they bowed down and worshipped Him. The wise
men, seeing the star, came also and they worshipped Him and gave
their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And thus was fulfill
led the prophecy, His name shall be Emmanuel" that is God with
us.
Let us not quickly assume that previous to His advent He had
been absent from among His people. From the time it was spo-
ken. 1.-The seed OF the woman shall bruise The - serpent's head"
Christ has been ever with His people. He Vas Abraham's guest,
the Nameless Presence, the Wrestling Angel, the protector in the
fiery furnace and the lions den, and at times innumerable He re-
vealed His comforting presence to those that sought and trusted in
Him. But there were at all times a number in Isreal who were
waiting for the child to be born, for the son to be given and upon
whose shoulders the government should rest, and whose name
should be Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace. And God did not disappoint His peo-
pie and the Christ came in the form of man, and thew shall call
His name 1mmanuel, that is God with us.
This year of all years we need to catch the significance of
Christmas. It is scarcely sufficient for US to let our thoughts rest
upon the Bethlehem scene and remain there. It is wonderful that
the Christ did come, but it is more wonderful that He is still with
US. We have passed through war with it's bloodshed. There has
been sickness and death on every hand. But His name is still I'm
manuel, and did He not say, "Lo, I am with you always" and as a
father pitieth his children 81 the Lord pitnth them that love Him.
And we have not a High Priest that cannot be touched with the
feelings of our infirmiies, but He knows and understands us alto
gether.
How poor the world would be without the Christ and the
Christ spirit which is SO dominant at this time of the year. The
first Christmas was not a consummation, it was rather one of Gods
new and wonderful beginnings. The light of the star still shines.
The light ard glory that shone IN the hills of Bethlehem has spread
to other lands. The music of the first Christmas morning was only
the prelude of the world music that has been repeated and elabor-
ated as the years have gone by. The first Christmas song was
heard only in Palestine. Now it is heard around the world. On
the first Christmas the veil was lifted only for the shepherds and
the wise men. The revelation was then to the few, but the Fathers
thought was to reveal Himself to all mankind, and to eyes that are
open and to hearts that are pure God now reveals His beauty and
glory.
Let us rejoice and be glad this Christmas season and sing
again with the angels. "Glory to God in the highest, on earth
peace good will towards men," Let us rejoice and be thankful that
the teachings of the Prince of Peace are about to find a larger full
fllnent in the affairs of men than they have ever done in the past.
let u IS rejoice that Christmas is gaining ground. Once man
confined it to a day. Now it has spread to a season, and we know
that its spirit may be kept for the entire year. This year more
will Worship the Christ and sing the Christmas song than ever be-
fesn The coming of Christmas speaks to us also of the coming of
Christs ose-sea0wsR4nsthe hearts Of men, and when that love is
in all hearts and rules every thought and action, then will come
that glad day which prophets and apostles have spoken and written
OF, which Cody men and women have dreamed of, the day when
sin and evil shall be tramped under foot, and when the kingdoms
OF this world shall have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His
Christ. R. H. STONE.