The Coolidge examiner., 1937-12-16

| which is Christ the Lord-Luke 2:11.
| PRIMARY TOPIC-When Jesus Came.
! JUNIOR TOPIC-When Jesus Came.
! INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
| IC-The Birth of Our Saviour
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-God's Gift of Saviour.
Few indeed are the stories that
will bear retelling or the books that
are worth re-reading. Rare is the
song that we care to hear more than
once. How significant then that we
come to the observance of Christ
mas each year with hearts full of
delight in the story of the birth of
Jesus, eager again to hear the ac-
count from Gods Word, and to lis
! ten with attentive souls for the
sound of the angels song in the
Christmas music.
The birth of our Lord as the in
carnate Saviour of men is still front
page, headline news. even in 1887.
The glad tidings of his coming still
color the thinking and living of a
world that has gone far from him,
| that lives today in hatred and en-
nifty, even while outwardly recall
ing the coming of the One who was
| to bring peace on earth. We have
| even gone so far that men feel that
| the way to promote peace is to use
the sword. Until the Prince Of
Peace himself shall reign there
may be no other way. But let us
be certain at this Christmas time
that the tender baby hand from the
cradle at Bethlehem has reached
out hearts and lives, bringing us
| peace with God and good will toward
men.
The first seven verses Of our chap
ter relate the coming of Mary with
Joseph to Gods appointed place at
his appointed time, for the entrance
into this world of the Son of God as
the Word that was made flesh
and dwelt among us" (John 1:1D.
Our lesson opens with the proclama-
blOiA VI lllC OlCooCO 6OOA " tAAC
shepherds in the field. Three
thoughts are suggested for consider
alton. The announcement Of the
coming Of the Saviour; the person
al response of the shepherds to the
glad tidings; and their immediate
activity in making it known to 9TH
ers.
1. Unto You Is Born a
Saviour" Wv. 9-lD.
Christ was a great teacher, one
whom the common people heard
| gladly, for he taught them as one
that had authority, and not as the
scribes" mark 1:22). He was
leader among men. and lived life
which was an example beyond that
| of any man. But mark it well, this
was not the central and essential
purpose of his coming. He came as
a Saviour. His mother was told be-
| fore his birth that she should call
his name JESUS: for he shall save
his people from their sins" (Matt.
| 1:2D.
It is not enough to be among the
countless thousands who superficial
ly observe Christmas with greetings
and gifts. We must with the shep-
herds go and present ourselves in
personal devotion to him. If you
have not met the Lord Jesus as your
own personal Saviour do it now. And
if you know him, make this Christ
mas in which Christ shall be su-
preme.
ii. LET Us Now Go :. and See"
(vv. 1870.
Their fear changed to assurance
by the words of the angel, the shep-
herds at once "go' and "see."
Would that all those who heard to-
day did likewise. The shepherds
might well have found all manner
of excuses for not going. They
had sheep to care for, they were
not prepared for journey. No, the
divine urge was upon them land
they came with haste ;. and found"
Jesus.
Let us follow the example of the
shepherds lest any of us be like the
guests who were hidden to the great
supper duke 14:16-24, who "all
with one consent began to make ex-
cuse" so that none of them ever en-
tered into the supper chamber.
III. "When They Had Seen
They Made Known" (vv. 17-20).
Mary the mother of Jesus had
special reason to ponder these
things in her heart. But the shep-
herds returned, glorifying and
praising God for all that they had
heard and seen."
LET the redeemed Of the Lord
say so'' CPS. 107:2). When we have
found the Lord Jesus we must not
simply rejoice in the satisfaction
and peace that has come to our
own souls. We are saved to serve.
The normal expression of the new
life in Christ is the proclamation Of
the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Only in that spirit do we truly keep
Christmas!
To every one that sees these lines
whether editor, typesetter, or
ofreader-whether reader in
= ILL.,