The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1937-12-16


INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
The Birth of Our Saviour
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Gods Gift of a 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
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
our 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 twas made flesh
and dwelt among us" John 1:14).
Our lesson opens with the proclama-
ton of the blessed good news to the
shepherds in the field.
l. "Unto You Is Born a
Saviour" wv. 8-14).
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 a
leader among men, and lived a life
which was an example beyond that
of any man. But mark it we'll, this
was not the central and essential
purpose of his coming. He came as
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.
1t 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 a Christ
mas in which Christ is supreme.
II. "Let Us Now Go and See"
wv IS, 16).
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 a journey. No, the
urge was upon them land they
came with haste and found"
Jesus.
III. "When They Had Seen
They Made Known" wv. 1920.
Mary the mother of Jesus had
special reason to ponder these
things in her heart. But the shep-
herds returned, clarifying and
praising God for all that they had
heard and seen"
Let the redeemed of the Lord
say so" Cps. 1879. 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
Observation-Disclosures a reader in
the midst of the clamor of the great
city or in the quiet of a distant coun-
trysidc, whether old or young,
whether well or on sickbed, wheth-
er alone, far from family and
friends, or in the bosom of your
family, the writer of these lines
extends in the name of Christ a most
hearty good wish for a blessed
Christmas.