The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-12-20

GOLDEN TEXTLGlory to God In the
highest and on earth peace. good will to-
ward men.-Luke 2:h.
Tinsel and toys, snow and sleigh
bells, crowded department stores
and rushing throngs, gifts and greet
ing cards, Christmas dinner and fell
lowship with family and friends
is that all Christmas means to US?
All these things are proper in their
place-exciting and interesting-but
they are not enough.
They have never been enough and
certainly they will not do this year,
with world in chaos. We need not
lose any Of the thrilling enjoyment
Of Christmas by properly observing
the day; in fact, we shall only en-
nance its meaning and bring out its
real glory by keeping Christ at the
heart Of our Christmas.
The opening verses of Luke 2 tell
us Of the coming of Mary with Jo-
seph to Gods appointed place at His
appointed time for the coming into
this world of His Son to be made
flesh and dwell among us John /:
14). Our lesson tells us of
1. Good Tidings of Great Joy wv.
8-14).
God had good news for the people
of this world and He gave it, as was
His custom, to those who were faith
fully discharging their humble
duties (cf. Judg. Gil, IL; I Kings
1919. God is still ready to reveal
His glory and grace in the "office,
kitchen, mill, barn school-room,
and open field-places where people
are at work on daily tasks" Doug
las). You need not be in the great
church in large city to meet Him
on Christmas day. He will reveal
Himself in all His beauty where you
are, though you be in the humblest
surroundings and at the most mental
task. Look for HimI
Jesus came as a Saviour. "The
world did not want an adviser. The
world had advised itself almost into
hell. The world did not ask for a
Spectator. Everything that man
could do had been done, and men
sat In the darkness of their own
wisdom. The world did not want a
reformer, a man who could change
his outward and transient relations,
an engineer that would continually
devote his time (for appropriate re-
muneration) to the readjustment of
the wheels and the pulleys and the
various mechanical forces of soci-
ETY.. The world wanted a saviour"
(Joseph Parker).
Note that the army of heaven
came to declare peace, not war; but
only to those in whom He is well
pleased" ". IA, r. W.. AS long as
men serve the devil and displease
God, they will have no peace.
ii. Great Faith and Consistent
Action wv. is, 16).
The shepherds did not say, "Let
us now go and see if this thing has
come to pass" or (which we expect
or hope will come to pass" but said,
(which is come to pass" They
went not to test Gods word, but in
the assurance that they would "see"
what had come to pass. Blessed
faith! Let us too believe Gods word
to us.
But faith without works is dead"
DANES 2:1O. The shepherds might
have made many excuses for not
going but they came" and found"
the Saviour. Perhaps you who read
these words have failed at that
point; you have not come to Jesus
as your Saviour. No more appro-
pirate time could be found to come
than right now. Believe, then act
on your faith.
Some of us who are Christians
need also to learn of the shepherds.
We talk great deal about our de-
votion to Christ. Especially at this
Christmas season we render much
Zip service" to Him. Let us make
it real, and our lives virile and
active for Him.
III. Good News for Meditat ton and
Proclamation WV 1920.
The gospel is literally good
news" What a blessed privilege it
is to have such good news in a day
of evil tidings, of darkness and
despair.
There are two things we ought to
do with the gospel of Gods redeem
ing grace. We should make il
known to the ends of the earth, but
we should also do as Mary, "who
kept all these things and pondered
them in her heart" We know she
had special reasons for doing so.
but may we not suggest that you
too make this Christmas a time
when you will ponder in your own
heart what God has done for you in
Christi
The shepherds also set us a Christ
mas example, for they made
known abroad" the coming of the
Saviour. Will you tell someone else
today7 Will you, like the shep-
hefds, be "glorifying and praising
God" this Christmas7 You will II
you, like them, go to the manger
and meet Jesus. If you 20 to this
worlds empty show of celebration.
you will return empty (see v. 10Y.
Nav the blessed peace If C1hrist