Evening star., 1931-12-19
THE SUPREME GIFT OF LOVE.
I John, iv.7-19.
Golden text; Beloved, II God
SO loved us, we also ought to love
one another--I John, iv11.

Christmas fills the world with glad
ness and JOY, because it causes men to
realize Gods love for them. When we
feel the spirit of doubt, bred by the
difficulties of the moment, it quickly
disappears when we realize that we
have a God who cares for us and who
has proven His love for us by giving
unto us the supreme gift of all time In
the advent of the Lord Jesus.
John, who was called lone whom
Jesus loved" tried to make men know
the deity of the Master in his gospel.
When he came to write his epistles, the
same note appears In them as it did in
his gospel Evidently he was trying to
impress upon all by his epiStleS how
God demonstrated His fellowship with
us in the gift of His only bcgotten son.
He was trying by his first epistle, which
was circular letter written to warn
the members in the churches where he
had worked, against the hercSy OF that
time. He desired to stimulate their
faith in the personality of the risen
Christ. Schaff sees in Johns first let
ter an endeavor to counteract the In
fiuence of the "Gnostic 'antichrists
who deny the mystery of the incarna-
ton. sunder religion and morality, and
run into Antinomian practices.
The Love Test.
Christmas reveals the spirit of love
and good will among men, who have
come into the fellowship of God, whose
supreme gift of love has become the
source of human love. Just as tho
birth of the Christ child in Bethlehem's
manger attracted the attention OF the
scholars, who had seen His star in the
heavens and Worshipcd Him by their
gifts of the most valued possessions OF
their land. so We express our devotion
and loyalty to Christ Jesus by our gifts
for His glory to help our fellow men,
The noblest attributes of our life re-
fleet the potent influence of our fellow
ship with the Lord Jesus. We not only
love one another, because of our spirit
ual relationship to our SAVIOR, but we
demonstrate by our love that we have
been born again.
Christ entered the human race sc
that men should come to know God
John taught that Christ's birth had its
roots in eternity. The Father revealed
His love for us not only in the advent
of our Lord but also in His cruciflXion
While the whole life of the Master
demonstrated the love of God for us, He
revealed the outreach of His love By
making it possible that we should be-
come companions of our Savior in
Gods service. 1t is this fact that
makes the spirit of Christmas one OF
sacrifice and self-denial The union OF
faith revealed by love proves our fell
lowship with God. If we lack love, We
90 not possess eternal life. This truth
John taught in his gospel, where We
read. He that believeth not the Son
shall not see life. but the wrath of Goo
abideth upon him" Do we love God
who first loved us and our brothers ir
Christ Jesus? If we do we will meet
the test of love not only on Christmas
but every day by our love for the
brotherhood and all mankind.
Gods Love Manifested.
Amidst the discouragements of tht
hour and the difficulties of life, many
a soul has raised the question does Goo
care? Following the loWly shepherds
who under the inspiration of the an.
gelic chorus left their flocks and sought
the newborn child. whom they founc
in Bethlehem's manger and Worshiped
We Join the multitudes who at this sea.
son of the year are inspired by the mes.
sage of Christmas, in adoring the Chris
Child. We rejoice that God manifested
His love toward us in the gift of Hi
only begotten Son, who came into tht