The Coolidge examiner., 1938-12-22

world. that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish. but have everlasting
hfe.-John 3:16.
Christmas Day on Sunday-what
an appropriate combination! Today
we commemorate the birth of our
Lord, the coming of our Redeemer
to dwell among men on the day of
the week which is a perpetual re-
membrance of His resurrection
from the dead-the Lords Day. He
came as the babe of Bethlehem S
manger in order that He might in
His death and resurrection from the
grave prove His victory over sin
and death. For those who know
and love the true spirit of Christ
mas, this should be a great day OF
rejoicing in Christ.
We have an unusual opportunity
to study the birth of Jesus from a
text not commonly used for Christ
mas, namely, the coming of the
Wise Men from the East to find and
to worship Him. 1t is suggested
that their experiences may be con-
sidered as showing the way to
Jesus, who is the perfect revelation
of Gods great love. We should
/. Look for His Sign (vv. 1-3).
While most of their fellow men
saw nothing but an unusually bright
star (if they even noted that much,
in their hurried devotion to the in
terests of everyday life), the men
of the East showed that they were
wise by recognizing that here was
the promised sign of Numbers "a: II.
Be sure to read that great prophecy.
When they told Herod, he, fearing
lest his own power and prominence
should be challenged, became
troubled in his heart.
The parallel to our day is striking.
Everywhere in our lives, personal
and national, are the unmistakable
signs of the presence and power Of
Jesus. Most people heed them not
in their mad pursuit of gold and
pleasure. Others hate His name,
and would destroy His influence on
earth. Let us be among the wise
men who come today to seek and
worship Him.
ii. Listen to Gods Word (vv. 4-6).
The Wise Men knew that He was
to come, but they needed further
light. They knew where to find it
in Gods own Word. How different
would be the history that is in the
making in our day if instead of turn
ing to the PHILOSOPHERS of men, or
trusting in the might of armaments,
we would turn to Gods Word and
let it lead us all to Christ, the
Saviour of the world, the Prince of
Peace.
III. Seek the Saviour (vv. 7-0.
Different motives moved in the
hearts of those who consulted the
Scriptures on that far-off day in
Jerusalem. Herod, while hypocrit-
ically protesting to want to worship,
really was looking into it so that he
might kill Jesus. There are hypo-
critics who study Gods Word in our
day for the same purpose while os-
tensibly worshiping. The people of
Jerusalem had the curious bystand-
er's interest in an unusual event.
They have their counterpart in our
churches and communities on this
Christmas Day of 1888. Then there
were the chief priests and scribes,
who had a purely professional in
terest in finding what the Scriptures
taught concerning this promised
One. There are plenty of that kind
of religious workers today.
None of these actually sought the
Saviour except the Wise Men. Thank
God for the thousands of men, wom-
en-, and children who will today seek
the Christ who is the very reason
for the observance of Christmas,
but who has been all but lost in the
nonsense and commercialism that
have practically ruined Christmas
as sacred holy day."
~. Worship Him wv. 10-12).
These faithful seekers found Him,
and in Him they found joy ". 10),
worship ". I'D. opportunity for sac
rifice of self and gifts ". I'D, and
fellowship with God in the great
work of redemption ". 12). God
spoke to them, gave them a person
al and secret commission which
thwarted the wicked plans of Herod.
Christmas may mean all of that
to each one of us if we let the Lord
Jesus come into our lives in all the
beauty of His redeeming love and
holiness. To you who read these
lines just now, the writer makes
this plea in the name of Christ-let
Him have your life and transform it
by His grace and for His glory.
Only thus can you have a joyful and
blessed Christmas.